Change in dental caries status over 2 years in children of Panchkula, Haryana: A longitudinal study.
BACKGROUND
Despite credible scientific advances and the fact that it is preventable, dental caries continues to be a major public health problem in developing countries like India. The first step toward disease prevention at community level is assessment of the disease activity.


OBJECTIVE
Hence this study was conducted to evaluate the change in dental caries status over 2 years in children of Panchkula, Haryana.


METHODS
207 school children having mixed dentition (age 7-8 years) and 103 children (age 12-13 years) were assessed for change in their dmf/DMF status over 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Results revealed that 81% of 7-8-year-old children and 83 % 12-13-year-olds had caries. There was a statistically significant increase in DMFT score of children over 2 years; thus necessitating implementation of rigorous preventive strategies at community level.
Department of Prosthodontics, B. R. S. Dental College, Panchkula, Haryana, India.
S
S
Kalra
Department of Pedodontics, B.R.S. Dental College, Panchkula, Haryana, India.
M
M
Simratvir
E. M. O. General Hospital, Panchkula, Haryana, India.
R
R
Kalra
Dr. Kalra's Multispeciality Dental Clinic, Panchkula, Haryana, India.
K
K
Janjua
Dr. Kalra's Multispeciality Dental Clinic, Panchkula, Haryana, India.
G
G
Singh
Dental caries; prevention