Dental caries status and treatment needs of children of fisher folk communities, residing in the coastal areas of Karnataka region, south India.
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.
Meghashyam
Bhat
B
Department of Community Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka State, India. msyamb@yahoo.com
Nagesh
L
L
Ankola
A
A
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