Dental Caries in Children and Youth With Cerebral Palsy: A Nationwide Study of Oral Health in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Aim To assess oral health outcomes for children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Aotearoa New Zealand and examine whether the level of motor impairment, using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), is associated with increased dental caries at ages 5 and 12 years.

Methods Longitudinal study linking clinical data from New Zealand Cerebral Palsy Register (NZCPR) for 1220 individuals with CP (aged ≤ 21 years) to national Community Oral Health Service records, 2008–2023. Oral health outcomes were measured using dmft/DMFT indices (decayed, missing, filled teeth) for primary and permanent dentitions.

Results 981 (80%) participants had ≥ 1 dmft/DMFT records. 306/429 (71%) with recorded dmft at age 5 years and 167/230 (73%) with recorded DMFT at age 12 years were caries-free. Caries-free rates did not vary across GMFCS levels. Adjusting for confounders, dental decay was more common in children of NZ Māori, Pacific Peoples and Asian ethnicities compared to European children at age 5 years, [OR 3.60 (1.91, 6.80), OR 5.11 (2.36, 11.05), OR 3.06 (1.38, 6.79) respectively] and in NZ Māori at 12 years [OR 3.18 (1.42, 7.12)].

Conclusions GMFCS was not associated with poorer oral health outcomes. However, significant ethnic disparities highlight the need for culturally responsive oral health interventions.