Oral health of individuals with intellectual disabilities: a global cross-sectional study from the special olympics world games 2023.

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the interrelationships between oral health status and dental visits among athletes participating in the Special Olympics World Games Berlin, Germany 2023.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted within the framework of the Healthy Athletes Program at the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, where 2109 athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) from all over the world participated in voluntary oral health screenings. Data were collected through interviews and clinical oral examinations, following a standardized protocol. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, logistic regression models, and chi-square tests to assess regional disparities, with significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

From a total of 7500 athletes that participated during the Special Olympics World Games 2109 athletes (28.1%) with intellectual disabilities from 152 countries participated in the oral health screening at the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023. Untreated caries were present in 40.6% of the athletes (n = 856). If the dentist was visited at least once a year neither the occurrence of untreated carious lesions (OR 1.02; p = 0.868) nor the rate of untreated lesions (OR 1.10, p-value 0.630), the number of missing teeth (OR 0.65) or gingivitis (OR 1.076) was significantly reduced.

CONCLUSION /CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study highlights an overall insufficient oral health status in athletes with ID. Even those who visited a dentist within the last year, treatment needs were not reduced significantly. More efforts compensating reduced oral hygiene capabilities and optimizing a barrier-free provision of dental care are needed.