Assessment of Periodontal Status of Konda Reddy Tribe in Bhadrachalam, Khammam District, India.
BACKGROUND
Though great strides have been taken globally in the fight against oral diseases, problems persist especially among poor, disadvantaged and socially marginalised communities like tribes. Konda Reddies are one of the most primitive tribes of Bhadrachalam who because of their isolation, inaccessibility to dental resources and lack of dental knowledge follow traditional methods of oral hygiene practices, which are found to be inadequate to maintain oral health.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the periodontal status of Konda reddy tribes residing in Bhadrachalam of Khammam district, India.


METHODS
Based on availability and accessibility the tribes were gathered using convenient sampling method. The total study population consisted of 500 subjects. Using a preformed Performa the oral hygiene practices and periodontal status was recorded using CPI index.


RESULTS
The total study population was 500, comprising of 225 males and 275 females in the age group ranging from 20- >70 years. The mean number of sextants with healthy condition were 0.04±0.19; calculus 4.69±1.21; pockets 4-5 mm 0.91±0.91 and pockets >6mm 0.02±0.15.


CONCLUSIONS
Poor oral hygiene and periodontal status was seen among the tribes. Under these circumstances, the implementation of a basic oral health care programme for these tribes is a high priority.
Department of Periodontics, Mamatha Dental College , Khammam, Telangana, India .
Naheeda
Assistant Professor, Department of Maxillofacial surgery & Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University , Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
Shaik Mohammed
SM
Asif
Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Mamatha dental college , Khammam, Telangana, India .
Madhavi
M
Padma
Reader, Department of periodontics, Mamatha dental college , Khammam, Telangana, India .
Arpita
A
Paul
Community periodontal index; Oral hygiene; Periodontal disease