DOI:

10.37988/1811-153X_2025_1_38

Dental caries and quality of life of visually impaired children: A systematic review

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Authors

  • Y. Mayasari 1, doctoral student at the Faculty of Dentistry
    ORCID: 0009-0005-9609-5925
  • R.R. Darwita 1, PhD, professor at the Dental Public Health and Preventive Dentistry Department
    ORCID: 0000-0001-7480-7876
  • F. Setiawati 1, Dr, drg, professor at the Dental Public Health and Preventive Dentistry Department
    ORCID: 0000-0001-8515-2369
  • H. Novrinda 1, PhD, associate professor at the Dental Public Health and Preventive Dentistry Department
    ORCID: 0000-0001-9465-7916
  • 1 University of Indonesia, 16424, Depok, Indonesia

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental caries in visually impaired children, its impact on their quality of life, influencing factors, and to recommend effective preventive interventions.
Materials and methods.
A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines using secondary data from Scopus and PubMed. From 238 retrieved articles, title screening and duplicate removal reduced the count. Applying inclusion and exclusion criteria resulted in 77 articles, and after abstract screening and full-text examination, 30 articles were included in the study.
Results.
The study reveals a high prevalence of dental caries in visually impaired children, ranging from 57.7% to 71%, due to challenges in maintaining oral hygiene and limited dental care access. Dental caries adversely affects their quality of life, causing pain, discomfort, and functional limitations, underscoring the need for early detection and treatment. Internal factors such as oral hygiene practices, detection abilities, and saliva activity influence caries prevalence. External factors, including family support, access to dental services, and social environment, significantly impact the oral health and quality of life of these children.
Conclusion.
 To prevent dental caries in visually impaired children, it is recommended to employ multisensory education, innovative techniques, family involvement, community programs, specialized prevention, early intervention, regular check-ups, and effective oral hygiene practices. Given the high risk of dental caries due to hygiene challenges and limited access to care, comprehensive interventions and family support are essential for improving oral health.

Key words:

dental caries, tooth decay, visually impaired, blind, children, oral health

For Citation

[1]
Mayasari Y., Darwita R.R., Setiawati F., Novrinda H. Dental caries and quality of life of visually impaired children: A systematic review. Clinical Dentistry (Russia).  2025; 28 (1): 38—49. DOI: 10.37988/1811-153X_2025_1_38

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Received

October 6, 2024

Accepted

January 20, 2025

Published on

April 7, 2025