title: Oral health status of Tibetan and local school children of Kushalnagar, Mysore district, India: a comparative study.
abstract: The presence of migrants culturally different from inhabitants of the host country is now a widespread phenomenon. It is known that dietary habits and oral hygiene practices vary from country to country, which in turn has a profound effect on oral health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess and compare the oral health status of Tibetan school children and local school children of Kushalnagar (Bylakuppe).
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted at Kushalnagar (Bylakuppe), in Mysore district, India to assess the oral health status of Tibetan school children (n = 300) and local school children (n = 300) and compared using World Health Organization oral health proforma (1997).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportional values are compared using chi-square test and the mean values are compared using Student's t-test. Statistically significant results were obtained for soft tissue lesions, dental caries, malocclusion, and treatment needs. However, results were not significant when gingivitis was compared in the two populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tibetan school children showed higher prevalence of Angular cheilitis, gingival bleeding, dental caries experience, malocclusion, and treatment needs in comparison with non-Tibetans. Among the Tibetan school children, the requirement for two or more surface filling was more.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Kurunji Venkataramana Gowda Dental College and Hospital, Sullia, Dakshina Kannada, India.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Havaldar
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hegde
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D018609:Tibet