Investigating the effect of handedness on the dental caries pattern, gingival index, and plaque index in 6-10 years old children.

BACKGROUND: Handedness is one of the individual characteristics that causes different mental and practical capabilities including different abilities to perform oral hygiene instructions. It seems that the right-handed and left-handed individuals have different ability in brushing and removing plaque at different areas of the mouth. AIMS: To investigate the effect of handedness on decay pattern, gingival index, and plaque index in 6-10 years old children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, children 6-10 years of age who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected. Dental caries and plaque and gingival indices were also measured and recorded for each child. Then the relationship between the handedness and the recorded variables was evaluated. Independent t-test and nonparametric Mann-Whitney test were used for the statistical comparison of quantitative variables between two right-handed and left-handed groups and Chi-square test was used for the statistical comparison of qualitative variables between these two groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20. RESULTS: The results showed that there was no significant relationship between any of the variables with being left- or right-handed. A significant relationship was observed only between the lowest plaque index and handedness (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A relationship cannot be considered between the handedness of children and their oral health status.