ABSTRACT
Dental caries is an age old problem of the human beings which needs elimination. Advances in the world have caused different effects to this problem. Surveys are conducted to evaluate the extant of this disease and the possible causative factors, periodically in different areas. Present study was conducted to evaluate the DMFT of 12-15 years old population in a rural area of south Punjab- Pakistan. About 950 students [male and female] 12-15 years old from Six rural area school of Muzaffargarh District were included in the study. Examination was made in day light with a mirror and probe. Entries were made in a printed proforma. An overall DMFT of 2.09 was observed for the 922 subjects. DMFT increased with age. It was more in females [2.22] and less in male [2.01] and the children from better socio economic status had less scores [1.94] as compared to poor [2.24]. More meals were associated with less caries while more intermeal snacks caused increase in caries, Brushing habits could not be correlated to DMFT. Rural population needs Oral Hygiene education. Better oral hygiene measures, less frequency of intermeal snacks and prophylactic measures may help reduce the caries