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| Year : 2003 | Volume
: 3
| Issue : 3 | Page : 9-13 |
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Assessment of the oral health status and treatment needs of leprosy afflicted patients in central leprosorium and rehabilitation centres in Bangalore city
Rashmi Chaluvaraj1, SS Hiremath2
1 Post Graduate, Government Dental College, Bangalore, India
2 Professor and Head, Government Dental College, Bangalore, India
Correspondence Address:
Rashmi Chaluvaraj
Post Graduate, Government Dental College, Bangalore
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
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Leprosy is a chronic infectious granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status and treatment needs of patients affected by leprosy in Bangalore City. This study was conducted at 3 leprosy centres in Bangalore City and a total of 211 patients were interviewed and examined using WHO Oral Health Assessment Form (1986). Among 181 patients with deformity of hands, feet and eyes, 39.3% had calculus, 34.9% had shallow pockets and 6.8% had deep pockets. The mean number of healthy sextant (1.44) was found to be more in patients without deformities compared to patients with deformities. Mean DMFT score was 5.7 and the mean number of decayed teeth, missing and filled teeth is 2.16, 3.53 and 0.009 respectively. Majority (45%) required extraction and 41.7% required dentures. Extraoral manifestations like paralysis and lepromas were found in 2.8% and 1.4% patients respectively. Periodontal disease and dental caries continue to present unique problems in the dental management of this patient population because the chronicity of oral diseases compounds the primary physical disability. |
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