Oral health status of 6- and 12-year-old school going children in Bangalore city: an epidemiological study.
BACKGROUND
Oral health is an essential component of health throughout life. However, millions of individuals suffer from dental caries and periodontal disease, resulting in unnecessary pain, difficulty in chewing, swallowing and speaking, and increased medical costs; hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate the oral health status of school children which would help us in planning and implementing necessary preventive measures.


OBJECTIVE
1. To assess the prevalence of dental caries among school children, using the Dentition Status and Treatment Needs Index. 2. To assess the prevalence of malocclusion among the study population, using the WHO criteria. 3. To assess the prevalence of dental calculus among the study population using the criteria of Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs.


METHODS
The study was conducted at a school in Bangalore city. The study population comprised of school children of two age groups - 6 and 12 years. A total of 430 subjects of both the sexes were surveyed, out of which 229 were in 6-year age group and 201 in 12-year age group.


RESULTS
No significant difference was observed between the age groups - 6 and 12 years - with respect to the proportion of dental caries (P > 0.05). Highly significant difference was noticed between the two age groups with respect to calculus (P < 0.01) and malocclusion (P < 0.05).
Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, V.S. Dental College and Hospital, V.V. Puram, Bangalore-560 004, Karnataka, India. ushymohandas@gmail.com
Usha Mohan
UM
Das
J P
JP
Beena
U
U
Azher
D002648:Child; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014505:Urban Population