title: Dental caries status and treatment needs of children of fisher folk communities, residing in the coastal areas of Karnataka region, south India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the dental caries status and treatment needs of children belonging to the fisher folk communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and sixty-seven children up to the age of 14 years were examined using the World Health Organization (WHO) oral health assessment criteria, 1997.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of dental caries was found to be high in the study population. The unmet treatment need was also high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further research is suggested in order to explore and identify the prevailing aetiological factors responsible for the current status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka State, India. msyamb@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Bhat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meghashyam
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nagesh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ankola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data