智障者因常因齲齒或缺牙等口腔衛生問題而造成咀嚼不良，使得食物進入身體後消化吸收不良而形成過胖、過瘦及便秘等不利健康因素，影響其健康與生活品質；本研究主要目的乃在探討智障者牙齒健康檢查的概況，以作為診斷此群體的口腔衛生問題之參考。研究對象為 1999-2002 年連續 4 年在臺北市某教養院接受照護服務的 152位智障者，針對這群智能障礙者的口腔健康檢查的資料進行分析。結果顯示各年口腔健檢異常率為 32.3%~41.1%，智障者罹患口腔疾病以一種居多，各年比例介於 27.6~40.8%，約 5.2%~13.2%的智障者有二種口腔疾病，患三種或三種以上口腔疾病的人數為 0.1~3.3%，智障者較常見的口腔疾病為牙結石、牙齦炎和蛀牙。智障者口腔衛生在智障群體是值得重視的問題，透過定期的口腔檢查是智障者迫切需求的醫療服務，後續的追蹤與治療更是醫療體系的一大挑戰。

Dental disease is the most frequent problem faced by people with intellectual disabilities. However, there are few special dental services and people with intellectual disability have received far less restorative care than the general population. The purpose of the present study was to examine the profile of the dental health in an institution for people with intellectual disabilities in Taipei. We recruited 152 subjects with intellectual disabilities caring in a disability institution from 1999 to 2000. The data of annual dental health checkups were examined to describe the profile of oral hygiene of this group of people. Results showed that more than one third of individuals with intellectual disabilities have dental problems in the previous 4 years, dental plaque, gingival inflammation, and cavities were the most prevalent dental illnesses among them. We suggest that the authority should initiate the appropriate health care policies to monitor and treat the dental problems for people with intellectual disabilities.