Creando un equipo de salud oral en el centro de educación especial

Résumé

Background: Special education centers are those where children with special education needs arising from their functional diversity, are schooled. In these centers the educators play an essential role, together with parents, as they have to help these children reach maximum autonomy in their future lives. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the oral health of a sample of children with functional diversity belonging to two educational schools in the Community of Madrid, and to develop together with parents and educators, individualized support for each patient, in order to encourage self-sufficiency in oral health. Material and methods: We tarted by unifying oral health knowl­edge, with a view to creating health agents at home and at the pecial education centers. For this, educational talks were given for parents and educators. Along parallel lines, and in order to facilitate self-suf­ficiency in oral health among children with functional diversity, the­oretical-practical workshops were carried out that were adapted to each group of children, according to age and intelligence quotient. Oral examination were also carried out among a final sample of 66 patient after application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, in order to discover the oral health status and individualized risk index of each child. The data was given to each parent in order to give them information on what had been accomplished and what needed to be maintained. Results: Caries values were found of 25.75% together with a high plaque index in most of the sample. Malocclusion was present in half the children studied and in nearly 32% dental anomalies were found. Conclusions: To conclude we were able to observe that people with functional diversity accumulate considerable oral di ea e. and therapy for this is very complicated. Preventative measures in these cases are a starting point for achieving and maintaining good oral health from an early age.