ASSESSMENT OF FIRST PERMANENT MOLAR HEALTH STATUS IN 6-15 YEARS OLD CHILDREN VISITING KHYBER COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY, PESHAWAR: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective:
 To assess the health status of the first permanent molar (decayed, missing, filled teeth, hypoplasia, and hypocalcification) in 6-15 yrs old children.
 Materials and Methods:
 A total of 147 children ranging from the age of 6-15yrs with a mean of 9.36± 2.63yrs were considered in the study. A self-prepared performa was use to collect data regarding decayed, missing, filled, hypoplastic, hypocalcified first permanent molars in children attending the paediatric department, Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar. Demographic data like age, gender, and parental occupation (for socioeconomic status) were also recorded in the same performa. Children were examined on the dental chair by using a probe, mouth mirror, and tweezer. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Frequencies and percentages of the variables were tabulated. The Chi-square test was applied for comparison among different socioeconomic levels. P-value ≤0.005 was considered significant statistically.
 Results:
 Out of a total of 147 children, ninety-seven were males (64.7%) and 53 were females (35.3%), with a male to female ratio of 2:1. The health status of the first permanent molar is poor in young children of low socioeconomic status.
 Conclusion:
 It is concluded from the study that the health status of the first permanent molar is poor in young boys whose parents were having low socioeconomic status.