Periodontal and dental caries status of an adult population of Karachi, Pakistan: a pilot study

ABSTRACT

To survey the dental caries and periodontal status of an adult urban population in Karachi, Pakistan. 110 randomly selected subjects, 57 men and 53 women, aged between 35 and 50 years, underwent clinical and radiographic examinations. The subjects bad on average 26 teeth. Plaque, bleeding on probing, calculus and gingival recession were highly prevalent Men had significantly less bone level than women, odds ratio 3.4 [p<0.002]. The older age group had less bone level than the younger age group, odds ratio 10.8. A tendency to less bleeding on probing and higher bone level was recorded for individuals using a toothbrush than for those using a finger to dean their teeth pFemales had more carious lesions than men, odds ratio 7,75 Chalia users had more canons lesions [2 6 +/- 33] than pan users [1 5 +/- 19] Socioeconomic variables such as education and income did not influence oral health. The study shows that this population does not require major restorative treatment Preventive measures such as sealing and minor restorative treatment improvement in oral hygiene habits and dental health education would considerably improve the oral health of this population