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DENTAL PLAQUE MATURITY, CARIOGENIC FOOD FREQUENCY AND ANTHROPOMETRIC
ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES IN KELANTAN
NMRR-17-706-35129

Rosnani N, Ruhaya H, Normastura AR

Objectives: To examine dental plaque maturity score (DPMS), cariogenic food frequency
(CFF) and anthropometric measurement (AM) of children with learning disabilities (LD).
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 286 children with LD
aged 7 to 14 years who were randomly selected in primary schools with special education
integrated programme in Pasir Puteh and Bachok, the districts of Kelantan state. Socio-
demographic information of the children were gathered. DPMS of the children was
determined by using GC Tri Plaque ID Gel®. The parents/guardians were face-to-face
interviewed for CFF of the children using a validated questionnaire, focused on the
frequency intakes of fifteen types of cariogenic foods and drinks from never/rarely up to
2-3 times daily. Anthropometric assessment involved height-for-age Z-score (HAZ),
weight-for-age (WAZ) and body mass index-for-age Z-score (BAZ) were calculated via
AnthroPlusTM. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 26.0 (IBM,
Chicago). The significant level was set at P < 0.05. Results: Of a total 286 children with LD
[mean (SD) age = 10.2 (1.7)] recruited in this study, the majority (99.7%) were Malays and
64.0% were intellectually deficit category. Total DPMS mean (SD) was 1.75 (0.38), whereas
total mean (SD) CFF was 41.2 (13.71). Eleven out of fifteen types of cariogenic foods and
drinks assessed were consumed moderately (34.1-55.1%) with total mean CFF score was
39.2%. Total mean (SD) for HAZ, WAZ and BAZ were -1.15 (1.489), -0.48 (2.165) and 0.04
(1.936) respectively. About one fourth of the subjects (24.6%) were stunted and severely
stunted, one third (29.7%) were overweight and obese, and one tenth (11.1%) were thin
and severely thin. Conclusion: Matured plaque was prevalent and most of cariogenic
foods/drinks types were consumed moderately, which would result in caries risk among
children with LD if not intervened. Stunted and overweight children crucially need
appropriate nutritional monitoring and guidance to ensure healthy and optimum growth
of children with LD.

th
Virtual oral presentation at the 19 Annual Scientific Meeting of IADR Malaysian Section, Acapella Suite Hotel, Shah Alam,
th
Selangor on 10 October 2020
Dr Rosnani Ngah Dr Ruhaya Hasan
Timur Laut Oral Health District Office Prof Dr Normastura Abd Rahman
Pulau Pinang Department of Dental Public Health
Oral Health Programme School of Dental Sciences
Ministry of Health Malaysia Universiti Sains Malaysia
Kelantan Malaysia

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