Prevalencia de gingivitis inducida por biofilm dental en escolares con discapacidad intelectual de la Unidad Educativa Especial del Azuay y de la Escuela de Educación Básica Fiscomisional San José de Calasanz en la ciudad de Cuenca – Ecuador

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of gingivitis associated with dental biofilm in students with intellectual disabilities from “Unidad Educativa Especial del Azuay” and “Escuela de Educación Básica Fiscomisional San José de Calasanz” in the city of Cuenca - Ecuador during the period March 2018 - March 2019. It consists of a descriptive cross-sectional study, which analyzed 133 students with mental retardation, Down syndrome and autism between 3 and 20 years old. The quality of hygiene (O'Leary Index) and gingival status (Löe and Sillness Gingival Index and periodontogram data based on the classification of biofilm-induced gum diseases) were evaluated to identify the presence of gingival conditions associated with biofilm. The study included 65 women (48.87%) and 68 men (51.13%), of whom 51.88% were located within a mild cognitive disability. According to the O'Leary index, it was evidenced that 100% of the participants had poor hygiene, and when relating it to the Löe and Sillnes gingival index, a prevalence of moderate gingivitis was demonstrated at 58.65%. Only one person with healthy gums was found (0.75%). Regarding the Armitage classification of gingival diseases, a frequency of 68 participants (51.13%) presented localized gingivitis. In conclusion a high prevalence of gum disease is observed in the population evaluated, demonstrating an inadequate oral hygiene state where 99.25% of people with intellectual disabilities analyzed in the study presented indicators of gingivitis, with no differences in gingival health between the two groups of students.