ABSTRACT
To assess the association between dental caries experience and carbonated drinks consumption in a population of adolescents [12-19 years] from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Cross-sectional study. This study was conducted in the department of Community Medicine atlslamic International Dental Hospital [IIDH] lslamabad from April 2014 to August 2014. A sample of 50 participants was selected through convenience sampling. Only those participants were included who belonged to the selected age group of 12-19 years. The sample was examined by dental students at IIDH and a validated, dietary questionnaire was completed through face-to-face interview with each participant. Caries severity was measured via the DMFT [no. of Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth] Index. Results were analyzed for the sample under study through SPSS Version 17. The mean DMFT for males [38%] was 1.31 +/- 1.60 and for females [62%] was 1.77 +/- 1.76. Caries prevalence in relation to carbonated drink consumption was found to be 62% with more than 7% of the participants having a DMFT score of 4 and above. A decrease in DMFT score was observed with the increase in frequency of tooth brushing. On comparison of mean DMFT scores with frequency of carbonated drink consumption, no distinctive pattern could be seen. Conclusive results establishing a strong association between carbonated drinks and dental caries could not be derived. Further research work is required for more valid results. While consuming carbonated drinks, safety guidelines for drinkingshould be followed