ARTICLE: Caries prevalence in patients with cerebral palsy and the burden of caring for them |
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| Authors: | Maria Teresa Botti Rodrigues Santos DDS MS PhD Marianna Biancardi DDS Renata Oliveira Guare DDS MS PhD Jose R. Jardim MD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Discipline of Dentistry, Persons with Disabilities Division, Cruzeiro do Sul University, S?o Paulo, Brazil;2. Associate Professor of Respiratory Diseases, Federal University of S?o Paulo, S?o Paulo, Brazil. |
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| Abstract: | The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between caries prevalence in individuals with cerebral palsy (CPG) and the burden on their caregivers (CGCP) compared to nondisabled individuals (CG) and their caregivers (CGCG). In a cross‐sectional assessment, 65 subjects with cerebral palsy were evaluated for their caries prevalence. The CGCP answered the Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) questionnaire. Using the same methodology, 58 CG were evaluated and CGCG replied to the questionnaire. The CGCP had statistically significant higher scores on general strain, isolation, disappointment, environment, and total scores using the CBS questionnaire. The CPG had significantly higher values using the Decayed, Missed and Filled (DMF) index than the CG. Values for the CBS domains in general strain and disappointment and DMF index were found to have a statistically significant correlation. Taking care of an individual with CP is a potential source of continual burden for caregivers, and there is a positive correlation between caries prevalence in individuals with CP and the burden on their caregivers. |
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| Keywords: | cerebral palsy caries caregiver oral hygiene care burden |
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