RESUMO
The present epidemiological investigation was conducted on a total sample of 2067 individuals in the age groups of 5-6, 15-16 and 30-35 years belonging to urban (U) and rural (R) areas of three states of eastern region of India viz. West Bengal (U & Rn = 361 & 359), Orissa (U & Rn = 351 & 351) and Sikkim (U & Rn = 323 & 321). Dental caries recording was done according to WHO index 1983. The point prevalence of dental caries, deft/DMFT and defs among all the three age groups in the urban and rural areas of three states revealed common pattern i.e. (i) Dental caries was higher in 5-6 year old children (U & R - W.B. = 52.4% & 48.3%, Orissa = 56.0% & 48.7% and Sikkim = 61.8% and 22.0% exception) as compared to 15-16 years (U & R.- WB. = 21.0% & 15.2%, Orissa = 18.3% & 19.8%, and Sikkim = 30.1% & 17.9%) and 30-35 year old individuals (U & R WB = 19.4% & 18.1% Orissa = 24.3% & 20.1% and Sikkim 29.9% & 24.5%) in West Bengal, Orissa and Sikkim respectively, (ii) dental caries was higher in urban as compared to rural areas. The decayed (d/D) component contributed maximum to total deft/DMFT and defs/DMFS score, followed by e/M (missing due to caries) and f/F component (filling) which was negligible or absent. Teeth requiring various type of treatment found that one or two surface fillings were maximum followed by others. Fluoride content of drinking water was negligible (0.004 - 0.011 ppm).