Network Analysis about Study on the Oral Health of People with Disabilities

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to analyze trends in oral health research among people with disabilities. Methods: Data were obtained from 70 oral studies on individuals with disabilities from 2000 to 2024. Keywords were analyzed. Frequency, betweenness centrality, and cluster analyses were performed using NetMiner. Results: The main keywords for oral health research on disabled people were oral health, dental caries, DMFT (decayedmissing- filled-teeth), dental treatment, oral health centers, and disabled children. As a result of the centrality analysis, DMFT had the highest connectivity, followed by disabled children, special care dentistry, oral health behavior, periodontitis, and health insurance. Cluster analysis results of research on disabled people: Group 1, oral diseases and functions of disabled people; Group 2, oral care for disabled children; Group 3, dental treatment for disabled people; Group 4, oral health policy; Group 5, oral care by dental hygienists; and Group 6, conservative dentistry. Conclusion: Considering the increase in the number of disabled people in a super-aging society, research on ways to promote oral health for disabled people, oral health policies, and training of oral health experts for disabled people is required.

Keywords

• cluster analysis
• dental care
• disabled persons
• oral health
• preventive dentistry