[Evaluation of oral health status amongst 6-7-year-old children in Mashhad in 2001]

ABSTRACT

Dental caries is a major problem in dentistry. Although we have observed a decline in caries prevalence for many years, it is clear that dental caries still remains the most prevalent disease afflicting humans. The objective of this study is evaluation of oral health status amongst 6-7-year-old children in Mashhad. This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 1938, 6-7-year-old preschool children in Mashhad to determine dmft index. T student and Chi-square tests were used for analytical analyze. The mean of dmft in all children was 4.72 +/- 4.18, and there was not a significant difference between girls and boys. Results showed that a significant number of primary teeth were caries. The maximum mean of dmft was seen in teeth D and E. 55.1% of boys and 56.3% of girls had caries in the first primary molars. 59% of boys and 58.1% of girls had caries in the second primary molar. Also 24.7% boys and 22.9% of girls had dmft=0[caries free], and 14.6% boys and 13.5% of girls suffer from rampand caries [dmft>10]. Successful management of the dental caries problem demands,a comprehensive preventive program, regular recall appointment for maintenance work and reemphasis of the preventive procedures