Dental caries; plaque; calculus and gingival bleeding in 14-17 years old secondary school scholars in Morogoro; Tanzania

ABSTRACT

The present study is on oral health conditions of 319 Tanzanian secondary school scholars; aged 14-17 years. The prevalence of caries was 51 per cent. The mean DT; MT and FT-score was 1.10; 0.22 and 0.03; respectively. Girls had significantly higher caries levels than boys (p = 0.005). Missing teeth were observed in 14 per cent of the scholars examined. Occlusal surfaces were the surfaces most affected and the molars the most affected tooth type. The prevalence of heavy plaque (score = 2); calculus and gingival bleeding was 42 per cent; 82 per cent and 44 per cent respectively. Boys had higher percentages of all sites covered with plaque; calculus and gingival bleeding than girls. The present survey amongst 14-17 years olds revealed a much higher caries experience and a higher prevalence of missing teeth due to caries than reported amongst 12-yr-old Tanzanian children. Since Tanzania has a population-based preventive strategy targeted at 0-15-yr olds; it is suggested monitoring changes in oral health conditions at the age of 15 instead of 12 years