207 - Lowe Syndrome Individuals: Their Access to Dental Care and Needs

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the dental needs, conditions, and attitudes amongst individuals with Lowe syndrome (LS) in comparison to healthy individuals. The hypothesis was that individuals with LS would have more access to care issues and more dental needs than healthy individuals.

Methods: A 21-question survey was developed with questions about access to dental care and the individuals’ dental attitudes and needs, including caries, inflammation, sore mouth, misaligned teeth, difficult time chewing, bad breath, and oral cysts. After face and content validation, the Lowe Syndrome Association (LSA) parent/caregiver received the survey via email and responded regarding the oldest individual in the household with LS. At the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) Department of Pediatric Dentistry, the parent/caregiver of healthy individuals completed the survey via iPad.

Results: One hundred and eight responses were collected: 58 from the LSA group and 50 from the TUSDM group. The LSA group reported a significantly higher percentage of oral cysts (p < .001), misaligned teeth (p < .001), and bad breath (p= .002) than the healthy group. The healthy group reported significantly greater willingness to accept brushing and flossing at home (p < .001) as well as dental treatment at the office (p < .001) than the LSA group.

Conclusion: Individuals with LS may have more dental needs than healthy individuals. Individuals with LS may be less willing to accept oral care at home and some professional dental treatments at the office.