Prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth and its relation with tooth brushing habits among schoolchildren in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives:To determine the prevalence of dental caries in the primary and permanent teeth, and evaluate the brushing habits of school children in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).Methods:This study was conducted at Dammam, KSA. Oral examination of the participants was conducted from February to May 2014. The total sample size for this cross-sectional study was 711. There were 397 children between the age of 6-9 years, who were examined for primary teeth caries, and 314 between the age 10-12 years were examined for permanent teeth caries. Primary and permanent dentitions were studied for decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft [primary teeth], DMFT [permanent teeth]).Results:The overall prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth was almost 73% (n=711). Among the 6-9-year-old, the prevalence of caries was approximately 78% (n=397) whereas, among the 10-12-year-old children, it was approximately 68% (n=314). Mean dmft value among the 6-9-year-olds was 3.66±3.13 with decayed (d) component of 3.28±2.92, missing (m) component of 0.11±0.69, and filled (f) component of 0.26±0.9. Mean DMFT value among the 10-12-year-old children was 1.94±2.0 with decayed (D) component of 1.76±1.85, missing (M) component of 0.03±0.22, and filled (F) of component 0.15±0.73. Daily tooth brushing had a positive effect on caries prevention, and this effect was statistically significant for caries in primary teeth.Conclusion:Although the prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth was not found to be as high as other researchers reported from different cities of KSA, still the prevalence was high considering the World Health Organization future oral health goals. Awareness should be provided to students, as well as, teachers and parents regarding the importance of good brushing habits and regular dental visits.

Prevalence of Dental Caries among Primary School Children of Kathmandu District- A Pilot Study

“…13 But this finding is in contrast to another study. 10 There was significant difference in the prevalence of dental caries in private school children and government school children which is similar to other studies. 7,14 Among the studied population, 5 to 10 years had maximum number of decayed teeth compared to 11 to 15 years' age groups with negligible filled component.…”

The Relationship Between Dental Caries and Body Mass Index Among Primary School Children in Makkah City

“…In the current study, the mean dmft index in caries-affected children was nearly consistent with Farooqi et al, (2015) [45] who reported 3.66±3.13 mean dmft value among Saudi children. While the mean DMFT index in caries-affected children was 1.69 ± 1.14, which confirms the data of a previous study on the caries prevalence in 7-11-years-old Saudi primary school children in Riyadh where the DMFT index was 1.6 ± 1.5 [47] .…”

“…This observation is consistent with a study carried out on 6-15-years-old school children in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, where caries prevalence was 91.3% [44] . Whereas, in Dammam, caries prevalence was 73% among school children aged 6-12 years [45] .…”

Sweet Taste Perception and Dental Caries in 13- to 15-Year-Olds: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

“…Special considerations are needed for children in general, but in particular for countries with a high caries prevalence accompanied by a minimum prevention protocol. As mentioned by Farooqi et al [2015], the caries level in Saudi Arabia is still high compared with the WHO oral health goals, and special preventive measures and instructions should be given to schools, parents, and children when it comes to appropriate oral hygiene and dietary habits.…”