Improving oral health in children with disabilities: A preventive home-based care model from Türkiye

Background: Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) face significant challenges in maintaining oral hygiene and accessing dental services due to disabilities. It has been reported that, because of these disadvantages, individuals with special needs experience oral health problems at a higher rate compared to the general population. This study aimed to assess factors influencing oral health in CSHCN within the dental home framework and propose preventive strategies. Methods: A total of 1229 children aged 0-8 years with disability health reports in Istanbul were examined through home visits by mobile dental teams. Caries experience was evaluated using combined indices (dfs + DMFS and dft + DMFT). Data on oral hygiene habits, dietary patterns, parental education level and dental visit history were collected through structured questionnaires. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, chi-square and Spearman's correlation tests (significance set at p < 0.05). Results: A statistically significant positive correlation was found between age and all caries indices (p < 0.01) 0.57. 1% of children reported brushing their teeth, with irregular brushers showing significantly higher caries indices than regular brushers (p < 0.05). Children requiring > 45 min to eat had significantly higher dfs + DMFS (1 surface) (p = 0.036) and dft + DMFT values (p = 0.019). Those consuming snacks > 3 times daily showed significantly higher caries indices across all measures (p < 0.01). Moderate/severe plaque accumulation was detected in 50.5% of participants. Lower parental education levels were significantly associated with higher caries indices (p < 0.01). Conclusions: This study highlights the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach to protect the oral health of CSHCN. The widespread implementation of the dental home model and regular dental check-ups will be a significant step in addressing oral health needs.