Dental Caries Experience in 6-13 Years Old School Children of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Dental caries though preventable oral health problem is affecting school children worldwide and around 50% of Nepalese children are suffering from it. Baseline data with good understanding of dental caries and associated risk factors are necessary to form preventive strategies for setting and achieving oral health goals.
 Objective: This study was conducted to determine dental caries experience and associated risk factors among school-going children of 6-13 years old in Dharan sub-metropolitan city, Nepal.
 Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 5th Jan 2018 to 4th Jan 2019 among 680 school children selected by multistage cluster sampling method. Pretested, standardized, closed-ended questionnaire answered by the parents was used to gather information regarding the associated risk factors. Dental caries experience was obtained from deft/DMFT (WHO modification 1997). Comparison of categorical data was done using Chi-square test. Multivariable binary logistic regressions were used for the statistical analysis.
 Results: The overall caries prevalence was 61.6%, in primary dentition it was 48.25% and in permanent dentition it was 34.4%. Dental caries experience was with mean deft 4.67 (±2.7) in primary dentition and mean DMFT 1.72 (±1.05).in permanent dentition. Multivariate analysis showed significant association between dental caries experience and grade three and grade four school children had experienced greater caries (p<0.05, OR =2.7). Dental caries was associated with eating sweets at night (p<0.001, OR=2.5) and snacking in-between meals (p<0.001, OR=2.5).
 Conclusions: Dental caries among school-children in Dharan showed a significant burden especially within the primary dentition. It was significantly associated with factors like feeding habits -eating sweets in a day, eating sweets at night and snaking in between meals

Assessment of dental caries based on ICDAS and WHO criteria: A comparative study

“…In the present study, the prevalence of dental caries among the children seeking dental treatment in People's Dental College and Hospital was 83.18% and 43.31% in primary and permanent dentitions, respectively. The prevalence of dental caries in this study was higher as compared to other studies conducted among Nepalese children 6,18 . Other studies were conducted in the community, whereas the present study was conducted in the dental OPD.…”

“…The prevalence of dental caries in this study was higher as compared to other studies conducted among Nepalese children. 6,18 Other studies were conducted in the community, whereas the present study was conducted in the dental OPD. The higher prevalence of dental caries in this study suggests that most of the children visit the dental OPD seeking the treatment of dental caries.…”

“…5,17 To date, the WHO system of dental caries detection has been used to study the caries prevalence in the Nepalese population. The prevalence of dental caries in Nepalese school children has been reported to be 48.25% and 34.4% in Eastern Nepal 18 and 62% and 22.90% in Kathmandu Nepal 6 in primary and permanent dentitions, respectively. In the present study, the prevalence of dental caries among the children seeking dental treatment in People's Dental College and Hospital was 83.18% and 43.31% in primary and permanent dentitions, respectively.…”

“…al among Indian school children showed caries prevalence to be higher among females, but the difference was nonsignificant 4 . Different studies conducted among Nepalese children in the community have shown a higher prevalence of caries among females 6,18 . In the Asian continent and South Asian subcontinent, gender bias has been an alarming social concern 22,23 : preferring male child over the female has led to bias in order to cater to basic needs like schooling and paid health facilities 24 .…”

“…4 Different studies conducted among Nepalese children in the community have shown a higher prevalence of caries among females. 6,18 In the Asian continent and South Asian subcontinent, gender bias has been an alarming social concern 22,23 : preferring male child over the female has led to bias in order to cater to basic needs like schooling and paid health facilities. 24 The present study which has been done among patients visiting a dental hospital for dental treatment showing higher 'cavitated caries' prevalence among the male child might be the portrayal of the South-Asian trend of favoritism of male offspring.…”