Mitali Shah¹

The Quadrant 2(1):13-18

How to cite: Dexterity testing as a predictor of oral hygiene in children with Down Syndrome. The Quadrant. 2023; 2(1):13-18

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11124037

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Daily oral hygiene is the primary means for prevention of oral diseases. These routine procedures are technically demanding and can be affected by the compliance and manual dexterity of the patient. The delay in motor skill acquisition by special children may lead to inability to perform daily routine tasks that uses gross and fine motor coordination. Aim: The aim of the study is to analyze the co-relation between manual dexterity and oral hygiene in children with Down syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 26 children with Down syndrome between the age group of 10-14 years that met the inclusion criteria were selected. An exploratory correlational study design was employed. Manual dexterity evaluation was done by box and block method and oral hygiene through OHI-S index. Correlation tests were done to statistically analyze the significance between the two variables. RESULTS: No significant correlation can be established between manual dexterity and oral hygiene in children with Down syndrome. CONCLUSION: The present study showed no correlation between the two variables. However, future research with a larger sample size can further uphold the results of this study.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ways to test dexterity in children with Down Syndrome

• Exploring the link between poor dexterity in Down Syndrome with their oral hygiene status

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR AFFILIATIONS

¹Private Practitioner, Bangalore, India

Received: 12th February 2023

Accepted: 03rd June 2023

Published: 15th October 2023

Dexterity testing as a predictor of oral hygiene in children with Down Syndrome