Evaluation of oral and dental health of institutionalized orphan children residing in children's homes in Türkiye.

BACKGROUND

Oral health is an integral part of general health. Studies evaluating the oral and dental health of orphaned children who have lost family support at an early age are relatively limited. The current study was aimed to evaluate the oral and dental health of institutionalized orphan children residing in the children's homes institution model in Türkiye for the first time.

METHODS

In this study, 90 institutionalized orphan children aged between 6 and 18 years residing in children's homes in Sivas province were included. Before starting the study, legal permissions were obtained from official institutions and informed consent forms were approved by the children's caregivers. The examination procedures were performed by two calibrated dentists, as recommended by the WHO. DMFT and deft, GI and PI indices were employed to assess dental caries experience, gingival inflammation, and the amount of plaque on the tooth surfaces, respectively. Additionally, periodontal status and treatment needs were evaluated using the CPITN index.

RESULTS

The mean value of DMFT index was 2.87 ± 2.41 in females and 1.55 ± 1.78 in males. The DMFT index was found to be significantly higher in females (p = 0.023). The mean value of deft index was 2.60 ± 1.67 in females and 3.47 ± 2.31 in males. The prevalence of decayed teeth was 54.54% in females and 63.04% in males. The prevalence of filled teeth was 38.88%. The prevalence of filled teeth was significantly higher in females (p = 0.017). The mean value of PI was 0.93 ± 0.45 in females and 1.15 ± 0.52 in males. The mean value of GI was 1.03 ± 0.51 in females and 1.37 ± 0.47 in males. The mean PI and GI values were significantly lower in females (p = 0.032, p = 0.002). CPI 1 score was 42.22% and CPI 2 score was 51.11%.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that orphaned children in children's homes may receive more attention to their oral health, yet still face high rates of dental caries, calculus, and gingival bleeding. These findings underscore the need for targeted preventive oral health policies, including age-appropriate education, caregiver training, and regular access to dental care. Improving outcomes requires early intervention, empowered caregivers, and system-wide accessibility.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered on ClinicalTrial.gov (ID: NCT06725654).