Interrelationship of Intelligence Quotient with Caries and Gingivitis

BACKGROUND: Intelligence is the property of mind that encompasses many related abilities, such as the capacities to reason, plan, solve the problem, think, comprehend ideas, use languages and to learn. Intellectual level of a person influence the abilities to learn from experience, adapt to new situations, understand and handle abstract concepts, and use knowledge to manipulate one’s environment. This abstract thinking helps the child to maintain his/her oral hygiene in a better way. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was carried out on 252 children of 10-15 years old, reported to the out-patient Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry; of Teerthanker Mahaveer Dental College and Research Centre; Moradabad, in order to assess the relation between IQ of a child with dental caries and gingival disease. The statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 15.0 statistical analysis software. RESULTS: Statistically, there was a significant difference among different intelligence groups and the prevalence of moderate gingivitis (P < 0.001). Prevalence of caries was maximum among those with borderline intelligence (90.9%), and no significant association between level of intelligence and caries prevalence was observed (P = 0.572). CONCLUSION: There was a statistical significant relation between IQ and prevalence of moderate gingivitis and no significant relationship was observed between IQ and dental caries.