The dental health of pre-school children with disabilities in the Republic of Ireland : oral health services research in the provision of dedicated dental health prevention programme for pre-school children with disabilities

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the dental health status of pre-school children with disabilities in the Republic of Ireland. The objectives of this study were to record the dental health status of a sample group of pre-school children with disabilities in the North-East (NE), who received an dental health prevention programme (intervention group) and a compatible group in the South-East (SE), where such a programme was not available (control group) by clinical examination of dental caries experience (dmft), oral hygiene, developmental defects of enamel (DDE), dental erosion, dental trauma and diagnosis of impairment / medical problem; to collect data on dental health knowledge, behaviour and attitude of caregivers by use of a questionnaire; to record changes in these dental health indicators over a three-year period. Additional objectives were to demonstrate the feasability of developing and using a secure mobile, online data collection system; to describe and interpret caregivers view of their children’s dental health care needs, parental coping strategies and their view of barriers to participation in this study as well as access to dental services by use of qualitative research techniques.