Maternal attitudes and practices towards child dental health of 3[1/2] to 4[1/2] year old in Lahore, Pakistan

The present study is a cross-sectional survey undertaken to assess the dental health attitudes and behaviours of 95 mothers of preschool children, from middle and low socio-economic groups, in urban Lahore, using a questionnaire adapted from the one used in an international collaborative study on child dental health. The results fail to achieve significance for the frequency of sugar consumption, consumption of sweetened milk, Toothache experience, history of dental visits and the choice of professional in case of dental problem, quantity of toothpaste used for the child and dental health beliefs of the mothers

prevalence of fractured permanent maxiliary incisors among visually impaired children in Lahore, Pakistan. A preliminary study

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to collect data on the prevalence of trauma to the maxillary incisors among visually impaired children [VIC]. MATERIALS and METHODS: Sixty children were examined from three schools of VIC in Lahore. Maxillary permanent incisors were examined for fractures of enamel, enamel and dentine and enamel and dentine with pulp exposure. In the study population, 60% of children were partially sighted while in 40% there was a complete loss of eyesight. Maxillary permanent incisor fracture were more common in male and totally blind children. Among males the older group while in females the younger age group children had a higher percentage of tooth fractures. Enamel fractures were more prevalent in males. The most commonly fractured tooth was the maxillary central incisor. It is concluded from the study that fractures of maxillary incisor teeth werd more common in totally blind children as compared to the study population consists of partially sighted and totally blind children partially sighted children. Children who sustained injuries did not seek any kind of dental care. It is therefore suggested that dental health care facilities should be provided to this disadvantaged group and their caretakers should be trained about prevention strategies in order to avoid dental trauma to these VIC

Comparison of caries in 6-7 year old Saudi girls attending public and armed forces schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the prevalence of caries among 6-7 year old Saudi school girls attending the public and Armed Forces schools in Riyadh and to provide baseline data for future Interventions in the development of oral health care. Three public and three Armed Forces schools were randomly selected and 100 children from each type of school were examined. Mean dmft for girls attending public schools was 6.0 [SD +/- 3.7] and was 8.1 [SD +/- 4.1] for Armed Forces schools while caries-free dentitions were 7.1% and 3.0%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the means for dmft [P<0.01] and those for caries-free children [P<0.05], among the two types of schools examined. Clearly, there is a real need for oral health promotion and care for the Saudi school girls 6-7 years of age