Oral Health Status and Practices of 5 and 12 Year Old Indian Tribal Children

Abstract

Objectives: To assess oral health status and practices of 5- and 12-year-old Tribal school children.Methods: A total of 418, 5-year-old children and 327, 12-year-old children were enrolled. Information on demographic characteristics of participants along with oral health behavior was collected. Clinical data were collected on dental fluorosis, periodontal status, dental caries and treatment needs. Dean's index criterion was used to assess dental fluorosis. Community Periodontal Index (CPI) for periodontal conditions and Dentition status and treatment needs for dental caries were recorded. Results: Between meal sugar consumption was high (100%). None of the children in both the age groups had visited trained health personnel for dental treatment. Dental fluorosis prevalence in 5- and 12-year olds was 11.9% and 22.9% respectively. Bleeding on probing and calculus was common between both the age groups. A low mean number of healthy sextants were found and this decreased with age. Mean dmft/DMFT values for 5- and 12-year olds were 4.13 ± 3.90 and 1.15 ± 1.62. Significant caries index (SIC) scores for 5- and 12-year olds were 7.17 ±4.30 and 3.78 ± 3.21 respectively. Conclusion: The present study reveals high sugar consumption, dental fluorosis, poor oral hygiene, and untreated dental disease of tribal children. Under these circumstances, the implementation of preventive programs including restriction of sweets in school premises for the tribal children is the key to good oral health.

Dental caries prevalence, oral health knowledge and practice among indigenous Chepang school children of Nepal

“…Low dental visit and 100% untreated caries could be due to lack of access to affordable health care services. Similar finding of high prevalence of untreated dental caries was reported in studies in schoolchildren who had limited access to dental care [14-16]. Rinsing mouth with water is a common practice in Nepali culture.…”

Factors associated with dental caries in Brazilian children: a multilevel approach

“…Moreover, there is a high risk for an increase in the incidence of caries in this age group . Studies involving children with similar ages using the same indices reports higher caries experience . A study carried out in Greece involving children aged 5–12 years reports a mean DMFT index of 1.35 and a mean dmft index of 1.54 .…”

“…A study carried out in Greece involving children aged 5-12 years reports a mean DMFT index of 1.35 and a mean dmft index of 1.54 (19). A study carried out in India reports a mean DMFT index of 1.15 among 12-year-olds and a mean dmft index of 4.13 among five-year-olds (20). A previous study carried out in Brazil involving 12-year-olds reports worse results (mean DMFT = 4.08) (21).…”

Good Oral Health and Diet

“…In fact, an early nutritional imbalance influences malformations most. Moreover, the different components of the stomatognathic apparatus undergo periods of intense growth alternated with periods of relative quiescence: it is clear that a nutritional imbalance in a very active period of growth will produce greater damage [3]. …”