Dental treatment needs of children in a rural subcounty of Uganda.
OBJECTIVE
To describe normative dental treatment needs of 5-7 and 12-year-olds in a rural sub county of Uganda and devise a strategy to improve oral health.


METHODS
Clinical survey.


METHODS
Primary schools in the subcounty.


METHODS
School-based random cluster sample of 236 5-7-year-olds and 202 12-year-olds. Dental status and treatment need data were collected according to WHO Oral Health Surveys Basic Methods. Additional data for 12-year-olds included dental fluorosis using the Thylstrup and Fejerskov index (TFI), oral hygiene procedures and experience of oral pain in the previous month.


RESULTS
In the 5-7-year-olds, mean dmft was 1.47 (50.8% dmft = 0). A total of 52.5% needed fillings and almost one third needed a tooth extracted. Among the 12-year-olds, mean DMFT was 0.64 (65.8% DMFT = 0), 28.5% had dental fluorosis and 6.7% had TFI > 2. Toothache in the previous four weeks was reported by 36.5%, 30.2% needed a filling and 6.4% needed one or more teeth extracted.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental disease is a significant public health problem in this population. An efficient way to meet the needs of the children would be to increase the availability of fluoride toothpaste and to develop a service to provide treatment using Atraumatic Restorative Technique.
Nalweyiso
N
N
Medical Research Council Programme on AIDS, c/o Uganda Virus Research Institute, PO Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda.
Busingye
J
J
Whitworth
J
J
Robinson
P G
PG
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D014098:Toothache / Q000453:epidemiology; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology