Abstract
This study was performed to examine the susceptibility to dental diseases among persons with severe motor and intellectual disabilities under tube-fed. The subjects included 17 patients being tubefed (tube group, the mean period of the tube-fed: 4.3±4.3 years, the mean age: 13.2±6.4 years)and 24 patients receiving normal diet (non-tube group, the mean age: 18.6±4.8 years). A survey of the incidence of dental diseases was conducted, and oral hygiene, the number of caries teeth and severity of gingivitis were compared between the two groups.
1. The mean caries incidence in the tube group was 0.1±0.1 teeth/year, which was significantly smaller than that in the non-tube group, which was 0.6±0.7 teeth/year.
2. When plaque deposition was estimated using PII, the tube group showed significantly lower PIT.
3. When calculus deposition was examined, about 60% of the subjects exhibited calculus deposition on the buccal and lingual surfaces in both groups, but more than half of the subjects in the tube group exhibited calculus deposition on the occlusal surfaces.
4. When the severity of gingivitis was compared using GI, many of the subjects showed mild gingivitis in both groups.
5. This survey indicated that patients being tube-fed many run small risk of incurring dental caries, but are highly susceptible to periodontal diseases.
