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Oral health conditions in Italian Special Olympics athletes
Author(s) -
Dellavia Claudia,
Allievi Cristina,
Pallavera Andrea,
Rosati Riccardo,
Sforza Chiarella
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.2008.00065.x
Subject(s) - athletes , medicine , oral health , intellectual disability , physical therapy , family medicine , gerontology , psychiatry
During three Italian Special Olympics National Games, 365 athletes were screened. Dental and medical conditions and demographic data were recorded. The athletes were divided into two groups: those with Down syndrome (DS) and those without DS but who had intellectual disabilities (non‐DS). Most of the subjects were in good systemic health. Total DMFt was 10.3 (SD 5.8; D = 1.3; M = 6.1; F = 2.8). Decayed and filled teeth were significantly more frequent in athletes who did not have DS compared to those with DS. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the number of subjects with filled, sealed, or traumatized teeth. Athletes with DS and without DS who participated in the Italian Special Olympics had a similar oral status, which was better than Italian persons who were institutionalized and who had an intellectual disability.