Evolution of oral status in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a longitudinal study

This longitudinal retrospective study aimed to assess oral status of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and analyse the influence of attendance to oral hygiene appointments on oral status over a 10-year period. Clinical oral assessment at first and last visit used the Decayed, Missing and Filled Permanent Teeth Index, the Simplified Debris Index, and the Gingival Index. The sample included 58 participants that visited for at least 10-year period a dental school clinic in Lisbon, with intellectual disability (55.2%), cerebral palsy (31.0%) and trisomy 21 (13.8%). During the study period the Decayed Teeth Index increased from 5.72 (±5.63) to 8.91 (±6.72) (p < 0.001), 59.3% of the participants lost at least one tooth, with a mean tooth loss of 1.78 (±2.15), which was not different between disabilities. The number of annual visits had a positive impact on Gingival Index (p = 0.002). Coming less than one annual visit resulted in 1.21 (CI = 0.52–2.44; p = 0.802) times greater risk of losing at least one tooth. Regular oral hygiene visits had a positive impact on improving and maintaining oral health.