Citation

Sano-Asahito T, Suzuki A, Matsuyama J, Mitomi T, Kinoshita-Kawano S, Hayashi-Sakai S, Asahito T. J. Clin. Pediatr. Dent. 2015; 39(4): 322-325.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Journal of Pedodontics)

DOI

10.17796/1053-4628-39.4.322

PMID

26161602

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Abused children have been reported to have low self-esteem. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dental intervention on self-esteem, oral condition, and concern for oral health in abused children admitted to a child protection service facility. STUDY DESIGN: We examined the oral condition of 65 children (34 boys, 31 girls; aged 2-15 years), instructed them in tooth-brushing. Self-esteem was examined using Pope's five-scale test for children. Before discharge, the children completed questionnaires on concern about their oral health.

RESULTS: The findings revealed the reasons for admission were child abuse and neglect (n=45), domestic violence against the mother (n= 20), special needs (n=11), delinquency (n=7), school refusal (n=2), and other reasons (n=3). Thirty-five of the 65 residents (54%) needed treatment for caries. Of these, 24 (69%) were abused children and 11 (31%) were admitted due to other reasons. Mean self-esteem score differed significantly between the resident children (n=43) and an outpatient control group (n=102) (59.16±14.54 vs 73.92±16.81, respectively; p<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Although the abused children had low self-esteem, after dental intervention, positive answers regarding oral health were obtained. The findings suggest that dental interventions might be effective for helping to improve the self-esteem of abused children.

Language: en