ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of school children about dental diseases, oral hygiene practices, dietary habits and pattern of visit to dental clinic and also to identify the source of information regarding dental health. This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2012 to June 2012, among students aged between 12 to 16 years studying in schools. Results of the study showed that 100% students believed that caries had negative effect on their dental health and sweets were the most common cause of dental caries. About the question of caries affecting dental health, 76 [25%] acquired knowledge from their dentists while 114 [37.75%] learned from school teacher and rest 113 [37.25%] gained their knowledge from parents? guardians. Moreover, regarding the source of information of soft drink as a hazard to oral health 76 [25%] got the knowledge from their dentists while 110 [36%] of students thought that soft drinks did not affect their dental health and 117 [39%] students said that they had not known the negative effect of soft drinks on their dental health. In the study, 56% responded that caries prompt them to visit dentist whereas only 10.7% visited dentist when they had bleeding gums. School teachers, parents and dentists were the main source of oral health information. The results of the present study showed that majority of the children obtained oral health information from their school teachers. Schools may provide effective settings for oral health screening and oral health educational programs
ABSTRACT
This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of oral sub-mucous fibrosis among male school going children in a low socio-economic class and to analyze the relationship between oral submucous fibrosis and the use of various form of tobacco and areca nut. It was conducted on 54 male school going children aged between 10-19 years studying in classes VI to X of a public school in the catchment area of Hamdard University Dental Hospital Block-L North Nazimabad, Karachi. Results of the study showed that 50% of the study subjects used tobacco and its related products and amongst them 7.4% of Oral Submucous Fibrosis cases were identified. Tobacco and its related products have flooded the Pakistani market being cheap and convenient and have become popular in school age groups. They have been identified as a high risk for occurrence of the precancerous lesion [oral submucous fibrosis]. Screening system in all schools must be introduced to identify precancerous lesion at an early stage