ABSTRACT
This descriptive, cross sectional oral health survey was carried out to document the oral health status of underprivileged school children of a trust school iri Lahore
The sample consisted of all the school children [n = 389]. Each student was examined randomly by one of three calibrated examiners and the findings were recorded on a modified WHO oral health assessment form. In addition to DMFT index, oral hygiene status was recorded and the students who needed fillings, scaling or orthodontic treatment were referred for treatment
In the permanent dentition, mean DMFT was 0.13, 95% CI = 0.09-0.18 [9.6% of the students had carious teeth] while in the deciduous dentition, draft was 0.94, 95% CI = 0.76-1.11 [34.1% of the students had caries]. One hundred and ten students [28.3%] were referred for fillings. Oral hygiene status was poor in 6.2% and 7.2% were referred for scaling. There was only one filled tooth in the entire sample
The oral health status of these students from lower socioeconomic strata was good. Caries prevalence and treatment need was lower than most studies done the world over