OBJECTIVE: A descriptive investigation was conducted for determining the prevalence of dental caries amongst mentally retarded (MR) people and those suffering from Down's syndrome (DS). METHODS: A special school located in Morán county in the State of Lara was visited. The inclusion criteria involved dental examination of 60 students and their parents/or the person responsible for them being interviewed. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 14.5 +/- 8.17; 48.3% were from a blue collar level. Regarding oral health, 53.0% had dental caries, 51.7% being in the molars. Moderately MR people had the highest proportion of dental caries (75%). About 53% of the females and 46.2% of males, 644% and 31.9% of RM and DS participants had caries. 28.3% needed non-urgent dental treatment and 45% were using public dental health services. CONCLUSIONS: People suffering from MR and DS have precarious oral health; it is thus recommended that health programmes be created which are specifically directed towards these people.
OBJECTIVE: A descriptive investigation was conducted for determining the prevalence of dental caries amongst mentally retarded (MR) people and those suffering from Down's syndrome (DS). METHODS: A special school located in Morán county in the State of Lara was visited. The inclusion criteria involved dental examination of 60 students and their parents/or the person responsible for them being interviewed. RESULTS:Participants' mean age was 14.5 +/- 8.17; 48.3% were from a blue collar level. Regarding oral health, 53.0% had dental caries, 51.7% being in the molars. Moderately MR people had the highest proportion of dental caries (75%). About 53% of the females and 46.2% of males, 644% and 31.9% of RM and DS participants had caries. 28.3% needed non-urgent dental treatment and 45% were using public dental health services. CONCLUSIONS:People suffering from MR and DS have precarious oral health; it is thus recommended that health programmes be created which are specifically directed towards these people.