Dental caries status and treatment needs of children of fisher folk communities, residing in the coastal areas of Karnataka region, south India / El estatus de las caries dentales y necesidades de tratamiento de los niños en las comunidades de pescadores, residentes en las áreas costeras de la región de karnataka, al sur de la india

OBJECTIVE: To assess the dental caries status and treatment needs of children belonging to the fisher folk communities. METHOD: Two hundred and sixty-seven children up to the age of 14 years were examined using the World Health Organization (WHO) oral health assessment criteria, 1997. RESULTS: The prevalence of dental caries was found to be high in the study population. The unmet treatment need was also high. CONCLUSION: Further research is suggested in order to explore and identify the prevailing aetiological factors responsible for the current status.