title: Oral Health Status of Tibetan and Local School Children: A Comparative Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  India has seen a large influx of refugee populations throughout history and the Tibetan immigration is one among them. Understanding the health status and needs of immigrants is imperative because of their growing numbers and their input to the health of the nation. The oral health professionals face many challenges while confronting refugees and immigrants from cultures different from their own. Earlier studies have shown that children, especially refugees and immigrants have had a higher prevalence of unmet oral health needs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the oral health status of 11-13 year old Tibetan and non-Tibetan school children in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A stratified cluster sampling of 11-13 year old Tibetan and non-Tibetan school children (431 and 434 respectively) formed the study participants for this study. Assessment of dental caries, periodontal disease and malocclusion was done in accordance with criteria laid down by WHO in oral health assessment survey basic methods, 1997. Data was collected by a single trained examiner. The results obtained were analyzed by SPSS version 18. The data was statistically analyzed by using chi-square test and independent t test. The level of significance was set at 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of caries was found to be higher among the Tibetan school children when compared to the non-Tibetan school children (71% and 53.9% respectively). The mean number of sextants with healthy gingiva (2.49±2.40) and calculus (1.63±2.28) was higher among the non-Tibetan school children. The mean Dental Aesthetic Index score was found to be higher for Tibetan school children than the non-Tibetan school children (26.57±4.62 and 23.52±4.36 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of caries, periodontal disease and malocclusion were found to be higher among immigrant Tibetan school children as when compared to non-Tibetan school children. The high level of unmet needs in the study population highlights the need for a comprehensive dental care programme in Bylakuppe.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College , Alappuzha, Kerela, India .
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sivakumar
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences , Virajpet, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Jithesh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Pariyaram Dental College , Kannur, Kerela, India .
authors.forename: Reshmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haridas
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences , Wayanad, Kerela, India .
authors.forename: Shanavas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paliayal
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Government Dental College , Allapuzha, Kerela, India .
authors.forename: Sheela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College , Kozhikode, Kerela, India .
authors.forename: Merrin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jose
keywords: Dental caries; Immigrants; Malocclusion; Periodontal status