ORAL HYGIENE INDEX IN CHILDREN AGED 3 TO 6 YEARS WITH STAINLESS STEEL CROWNS.

Abstract

Introduction: Stainless steel crown (SSC) is accepted by dentists as an alternative to restore primary molars with extensive caries, enamel or dentin disorders, and following pulp treatments. Retrospective studies have indicated that, compared to amalgam and composite, indirect pulp treatment and pulpotomy of primary molars which are restored by SSC, had been more successful.The oral hygiene index simplified(OHIS) is calculated for the patients between 3 to 6 years who undergone treatment of stainless steel crowns. Although several studies assessed the OHIS scores,the association with several risk factors and stainless steel crowns undergone by patients has not been fully investigated. The aim of this article is to measure the OHIS scores for the patients who are wearing stainless steel crowns among the patients enrolled in the clinics at saveetha dental college and hospitals.

Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among the outpatient population in Saveetha Dental College, Chennai between August, 2020 and january, 2021. The OHIS scores were calculated among the patients who wore stainless steel crowns between the age of 3 to 6 years reporting to the clinic. The data was collected using DIAS software and put into an excel sheet and the analysis of the data was made using SPSS software with a chi-square test for association.

Results: OHIS Score of 3 was the most common score among the age group of 3,4,5 and 6 year olds. Girls were found to have better scores than boys.

Conclusion: Within the limitations of the study, it can be concluded that the most common OHIS Score in children was 3 (58%) in children indicating poor oral hygiene. Oral hygiene scores increased as age increased indicating older children had poor oral health. Girls were to have better oral hygiene than boys.