The incidence of dental caries in children and adolescents who have cerebral palsy and are participating in a dental program in Brazil

The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of caries among children and adolescents who have cerebral palsy. The authors conducted baseline and follow-up dental examinations of 118 children and adolescents with cerebral palsy in a specialized healthcare unit in São Paulo, Brazil. Family care-givers completed a questionnaire that provided socioeconomic and behavioral information. The analysis used multivari-ate Poisson regression models adjusted for age. More than half (52.5%) of the subjects had at least one permanent or deciduous tooth affected by new caries during the longitudinal assessment (2004-2008). The incidence of caries was associated with the baseline prevalence of caries (incidence ratio = 1.92), a higher frequency of sugar intake (IR = 1.56), and having at least one sibling (IR = 1.64). Participants whose family care-givers had more education had a significantly lower incidence (IR = 0.68). The factors associated with a higher incidence of caries are similar to those in the general population. This evidence can potentially be used to develop an effective oral health promotion program for these patients.