Programa de educação em saúde bucal de cuidadores e de indivíduos com paralísia cerebral

Abstract

Objective: Preventive and self-care measures are essential for maintaining the oral health of subjects with cerebral palsy (CP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral health of subjects with cerebral palsy and their caregivers at the initial and three months after receiving oral health instructions. Methods: One hundred and two subjects were allocated in two groups: Group 1 (G1) composed of 51 subjects with CP that are receiving dental treatment at the Dental Clinic of the Special Patients Discipline of the University of Cruzeiro do Sul, São Paulo, Liberdade and São Miguel Paulista and Group 2 (G2) 51 caregivers of these subjects with CP. Initially, caregivers receive guidance on how to perform oral care of their subjects. Sociodemographic data and oral hygiene habits were collected. Clinical evaluations were performed using the Plaque Index and Gingival Index evaluations before and after receiving hygiene instructions in both groups. Chi-square test was used to compare the categorical variables, ANOVA 1 criterion test for continuous variables and the paired Student t Test for comparison of values before and after. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. Results: The groups of subjects with CP tetraparesis, diparesis and hemiparesis were homogeneous regarding gender (P = 0.07), nevertheless differed regrading age (P < 0.05), with subjects with clinical pattern diparesis younger. It was not observed a significant difference among the groups regarding visible plaque and initial and final gingival indexes for three clinical patterns (P> 0.05). However, it was observed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) when were compared initial and final values for all clinical patterns groups. Regarding caregivers most of them were female, married, with complete high school and performing oral hygiene three times a day. It also was observed a significant reduction for visible plaque and initial and final gingival indexes, after oral hygiene instructions received (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Oral hygiene instructions is essential for caregivers of individuals with CP, as it is effective in maintaining oral health. Keywords: Cerebral palsy, Oral hygiene, Caregivers, Oral health.