Caries Preventive Strategies in Specially Abled Children: A Systematic Review.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND

Dental caries is a common oral disease among children. Children with disabilities, in particular, are at a higher risk of developing dental caries due to a lack of ability to carry out routine oral healthcare procedures and limited access to dental care. This systematic review aimed to investigate the effectiveness of various caries preventive strategies among children with disabilities.

METHODS

Four electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched from the commencement of the search to 22nd January 2024. Randomized or nonrandomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of different caries preventive strategies in children with disabilities were included in the study. The risk of bias in the studies was determined by using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and risk of bias in nonrandomized studies of interventions (ROBINS-I).

RESULTS

A total of 130 articles were obtained after applying the search strategy with the assigned keywords. Two reviewers extracted the outcome data and independently evaluated the quality of the study. Studies applying the various caries preventive strategies in disabled children were included, and a qualitative analysis was conducted on nine articles with full text.

CONCLUSION

The study found that preventive strategies, such as fluoride treatments, pit and fissure sealants, and regular dental check-ups, were effective in reducing the incidence of dental caries among children with disabilities.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The study also highlighted the need for improved access to dental care for this population. By providing accessible facilities, effective communication mediums, and individualized preventive strategies, we can ensure that these children receive the best oral health care available.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE

Sampathkumar B, Byalakere Rudraiah C, Khanum N, . Caries Preventive Strategies in Specially Abled Children: A Systematic Review. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(4):466-472.