Oral health and treatment needs among 15-year-olds in Tehran, Iran.
OBJECTIVE
To study oral health status and treatment need among 15-year-olds in Tehran, Iran in relation to their parents' level of education.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study based on the WHO criteria, was carried out in 2004 among 15-year-olds (n=506) in Tehran. Data collection was by a self-administered questionnaire and a clinical dental examination to assess dental caries, periodontal conditions and orthodontic treatment needs.


RESULTS
Mean DMFT was 2.1 (95%CI=1.9, 2.4), which comprised DT=0.9, MT=0.2, and FT=1.0. The mean SiC index was 5.2 (95%CI=4.8, 5.5). Mean numbers of sextants with PI scores 0, 1, and 2 were 0.6, 2.1, and 3.3 respectively, and with CPI scores 0, 1, and 2, were 2.1, 3.5 and 0.4 respectively. Need for caries (DT>0) treatment existed in 40% of subjects, for scaling (CPI=2) in 24%, for oral hygiene instructions in 100%, and for orthodontic treatment in 26%. Subjects with caries and dental plaque were fewer among those whose parents had a high level of education (p<0.05). Presence of dental plaque was associated with DT>0 (OR=1.8, p=0.01) and CPI>0 (OR=11.2, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Poor level of oral hygiene among the present 15-year-olds calls for school-based oral health promotion activities focusing on oral self-care.
Yazdani
R
R
Department of Oral Public Health, Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Reza.Yazdani@helsinki.fi
Vehkalahti
M M
MM
Nouri
M
M
Murtomaa
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009909:Oral Health; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010290:Parents; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires