title: Prevalence of dental caries and oral hygiene status of a screened population in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was designed to determine the prevalence of dental caries and partial edentulism, in addition to assessing the oral hygiene status and restorative care among adults in a community-based outreach program in Port Harcourt.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults who participated in oral health screening program, which took place in Alakahia and Obigbo rural communities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. After a brief oral health education, clinical examination was conducted and the diagnosis of caries was made based on the guidelines laid down by World Health Organization. Prevalence of caries was measured using decayed missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index, and oral hygiene status was assessed using the OHI-S. The restorative index [(F/F + D) ×100] was also calculated and the sociodemographic factors of the subjects were noted. Chi-square test, independent t-test and descriptive statistic were employed for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One fifty-five females (53.8%) and 133 males (46.2%) attended the events and their mean age was 29.3 ± 10.5 years. About one-third of the participants (35.1%) presented with dental caries. The mean DMFT for the whole group was 0.67 ± 2.0. The restorative index for the subjects was 26.8%. The oral hygiene status of most of the participants was fair. This was significantly better in females than in males (P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although about one-third of the participants had dental caries, only a quarter of them had received restorative care. Most of the respondents had fair and poor oral hygiene, this suggests the need to educate and motivate the community toward adopting and maintaining positive oral health attitudes and practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Arigbede Abiodun
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Olabisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Umanah Ayamma
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Udo
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Dental Health, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ukegheson Gabriel
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Ehimen
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Braimoh Omoigberai
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Bashiru
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Omitola Olufemi
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Gbenga
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Akadiri Oladimeji
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Adeniyi
keywords: Community; dental caries; oral health; oral health education; oral health practice; restorative index; screening