Özet:

Objective: This study aimed to compare oral health status of children with and without cerebral palsy (CP) who have dysphagia. Materials and Methods: The study included two groups of children with and without CP who suffer from dysphagia. The parents filled a written questionnaire about demographic variables. The oral motor functions of the children, including mouth breathing, tongue thrust, lip closure, tongue posture, severity and frequency of drooling, swallowing, chewing- and eating-related functions, malocclusion and dental caries status were evaluated. Results: Between-group comparisons showed a significant difference in swallowing functions, chewing and drooling, mouth breathing, lip closure, tongue thrust and malocclusion. However, no significant difference in oral hygiene habits was found between the groups. These results indicated that the orofacial structures of children with CP were more affected than those of children without CP. Conclusion: Swallowing disorder in CP affects oral functions and oral health negatively as in other neurological diseases. Early diagnosis and management of dysphagia are important to improve the quality of life of children with CP. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach, including dentists, is necessary for early diagnosis and treatment.

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