The oral health of cerebral palsy patients in Pakistan: A neglected domain

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an irreversible neurological disorder that affects movement, posture, and muscle tone due to a static encephalopathy acquired during the fetal, infancy, or early childhood developmental period. Apart from motor functions, CP may also affect balance, cognition, communication, hearing, and oromotor functions1. CP is more common in males (58.2%) as compared to females (41.7%) 2. CP-inflicted patients may have a higher risk of several dental problems which can affect their quality of life3. There are several challenges to keep adequate oral health in CP-inflicted patients due to difficulty in brushing, drooling, dry mouth due to medications and breathing through the mouth, hyper or hypoactive gag reflexes, oral hypersensitivity, and positioning3. Due to oromotor challenges, most CP-inflicted patients consume starchy foods, leading to dental caries. The provision of oral care to such patients requires adaptation of the standard procedures.