2026 Volume 47 Issue 1 Pages 64-71
Children and adults with cerebral palsy often have difficulties with dental treatment and oral hygiene management due to sensory impairments, intellectual disabilities, and specific motor disorders. This study clarified the challenges dental hygienists face when providing periodontal treatment and oral hygiene instruction to children and adults with cerebral palsy and examined safer and more effective ways of responding.
The study participants were members of the Japanese Society for Disability and Oral Health and dental hygienists who provide dental care to children and adults with cerebral palsy and who consented to the survey. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were used to collect and analyze the challenges and solutions they faced in periodontal treatment performed by dental hygienists and oral hygiene instruction.
The 108 dental hygienists analyzed had a mean age （SD） of 49.1 （10.5） and 25.7 （11.1） years of dental practice experience since graduation. It was revealed that dental hygienists face challenges in periodontal treatment and oral hygiene instruction, including involuntary movements, difficulty maintaining mouth-opening, abnormal gag reflex, and risk of aspiration. To address these challenges, they devised measures such as vacuum manipulation and posture adjustments.
In dental treatment for children and adults with cerebral palsy, dental hygienists often face many difficulties in periodontal treatment and oral hygiene management, but by using various innovative methods, they appear to be striving to prevent the onset and worsening of dental diseases. To achieve this, it is necessary to provide appropriate oral hygiene management and support according to the characteristics of each patient’s disability. It is considered essential to improve the expertise of dental hygienists and strengthen the collaboration system with welfare, medical, and family members.
