Survey and analysis of dental caries in students at a deaf–mute high school

The present cross-sectional study was conducted to assess and compare the prevalence of dental caries of 229 deaf adolescents in a special senior high school and to identify factors related to dental caries, with a match group of 196 healthy adolescents in a normal senior high school, in Jiangsu province of East China. In this study the prevalence of dental caries was 55.9%, Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index in deaf students was 1.40 ± 1.89; in healthy students was 13.8% and 1.36 ± 1.72, respectively. Relatively lower proportion of awareness on dental health knowledge and lower proper practice of dental health behavior have been observed among deaf students compared with the control group. Multiple logistic regressions showed that the risk factors of dental caries in deaf students involved high frequency of consuming dessert and carbonated beverage. Poor oral health, lack of oral health knowledge and proper oral health practice could be found in deaf students. The dental treatment for the two groups was urgently needed. The dental health education concerning dietary behavior and prevention program to the deaf students and their parents should be reinforced; the supervision of oral health behavior for deaf and healthy students needs to be strengthened.

► Dental caries and related factors were identified in deaf and healthy adolescents.
► Poor oral health condition was found in deaf adolescents.
► Deaf adolescents lacked oral health knowledge and behavior.
► Dental treatment for the two groups was urgently needed.
► Dental health education for deaf adolescents and their parents should be reinforced.