Prevalence and predictors of untreated caries and oral pain among Special Olympic athletes

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Abstract
The authors assessed the prevalence and predictors of untreated caries and oral pain among Special Olympic athletes. The study population consisted of a convenience sample of 9,620 athletes who were participating in the 2001 Special Olympics events held at 40 sites in the United States, and who consented to a standardized oral health screening. The prevalence of oral pain and untreated caries was 13.5% and 30.4%, respectively. Statistically significant independent associations (adjusted odds ratios [OR], p ≥ 0.05) between untreated caries and oral pain (OR=1.50), gingivitis (OR=1.92), injury (OR=1.28), missing teeth (OR=1.79), and home care (frequency of cleaning their teeth once or less per week compared with once or more per day OR=2.13) were found. In another model, we found statistically significant independent associations between oral pain and untreated caries (OR=1.58), gender (OR=1.28), gingivitis (OR=1.30), and home care (frequency of cleaning their teeth once or less per week compared to once or more per day OR=4.60). Substantial levels of untreated caries and oral pain were prevalent and related to poor oral hygiene and poor oral health. These findings were discouraging given that the study participants represented a generally well‐supported, high‐functioning stratum of persons with mental retardation in the United States.

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