Abstract
BackgroundWe aimed to assess the oral health status and risk factors for dental caries and periodontal disease among Sudanese adults resident in Khartoum State. To date, this information was not available to health policy planners in Sudan.MethodsA descriptive population-based survey of Sudanese adults aged ≥ 16 years was conducted. After stratified sampling, 1,888 adult patients from public dental hospitals and dental health centres scattered across Khartoum State, including different ethnic groups present in Sudan, were examined in 2009-10. Data were collected using patient interviews and clinical examinations. Dental status was recorded using the DMFT index, community periodontal index (CPI), and a validated tooth wear index.ResultsCaries prevalence was high, with 87.7% of teeth examined having untreated decay. Periodontal disease increased in extent and severity with age. For 25.8% of adults, tooth wear was mild; 8.7% had moderate and 1% severe toothwear. Multivariate analysis revealed that decay was less prevalent in older age groups but more prevalent in southern tribes and frequent problem based attenders; western tribes and people with dry mouths who presented with less than18 sound, untreated natural teeth (SUNT). Older age groups were more likely to present with tooth wear; increasing age and gender were associated with having periodontal pocketing ≥ 4 mm.ConclusionsThe prevalence of untreated caries and periodontal disease was high in this population. There appear to be some barriers to restorative dental care, with frequent use of dental extractions to treat caries and limited use of restorative dentistry. Implementation of population-based strategies tailored to the circumstances of Sudanese population is important to improve oral health status in Sudan.
Highlights
We aimed to assess the oral health status and risk factors for dental caries and periodontal disease among Sudanese adults resident in Khartoum State
intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for Community Periodontal Index (CPI), DMFT, and tooth wear the before start of survey was 0.67 (95%CI, 0.56-0.83), 0.96 (95%CI, 0.92-0.97), and 0.55, respectively, and during the survey was 0.61, 0.85, and 0.59 (95%CI, 0.49-0.62), respectively
Whereas it is possible to obtain some information on oral health issues from patients attending outpatient facilities of hospitals and dental health centres of Khartoum State, the findings may not be representative of the whole of Sudan
Summary
We aimed to assess the oral health status and risk factors for dental caries and periodontal disease among Sudanese adults resident in Khartoum State. To date, this information was not available to health policy planners in Sudan. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “oral health means being free of diseases and disorders that affect the mouth and oral cavity” [1]. Dental caries experience is commonly recorded using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index [5]. Mean DMFT scores are used to give an estimate of caries prevalence and its treatment (either by tooth extraction of restorations). Periodontal status in population studies is recorded using the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) [5]. The main outcome measures of CPI are Partial mouth recordings have been utilized to record level of tooth wear [6,7] and partial recording of 12 anterior teeth was found appropriate to measure tooth wear [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
