Dental caries prevalence in 3-8 year old children of army schools in Lahore

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to measure the prevalence of dental caries among 3-8 years old children of Army schools in the cantonment area in Lahore. This was a cross sectional study and the data were collected from 7 public primary schools [n=642]. The oral examination was conducted by single calibrated examiner by using examination instruments in natural day light. The findings were charted on WHO oral assessment form. Mean number of decayed, missing or filled teeth [DMFT index], caries distribution among the children were measured. Significant Caries Index [SiC Index], Plaque index and Care Index were used to measure the unequal distribution of the dental caries and oral health care. The study showed that only 39.06% of the students were caries free. The mean DMFT was 2.69, [boys 3.02 and girls 2.37]. F component of DMFT showed only 4.05% had fillings. SiC index was 6.58 which showed high caries distribution, the Care index was 0.06% indicating extremely low utilization of oral health services. A high prevalence of unmet health care need still exists in Lahore as reflected through high D and very low F scores in DMFT index. Furthermore; presence of dental plaque and poor oral hygiene has a significant impact on caries experience in primary school children in Lahore