Oral hygiene and gingival condition among epileptic patients 5-15 year-old : a comparative study

Background : epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by behavior that results from abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and severity of the oral hygiene and gingival health condition concerning epileptic patients in some hospitals in Baghdad city, in comparison to controls, matching with numbers age and gender. Materials and method : oral examinations involved epileptic patients with an age rang (5-15) year old, matched with same number of controls from kindergarten and schools in Baghdad city. Plaque index, calculus index and gingival index were used in this study and Ram fjord teeth were chosen for recording these indices. Results : epileptic patients demonstrated a statistically significantly higher mean value of plaque index and gingival index compared to control group, while no statistical significant difference was found in mean value of calculus index between both groups Conclusion : the condition of oral health status of the epileptic group is worse than matched group.