Assessment of Oral Health Status of 35–44 and 65–74 Year Old Adults in Bairawa, Saptari, Nepal

Abstract

Aim: To determine the oral health status of 35-44 and 65-74 year old adult population of Bairawa, Saptari Nepal using the WHO Oral Health Assessment Form 1997. Materials and method: The study was conducted among 642 subjects aged 35-44 and 65-74 years. Demographic information was collected by interview. Clinical examination was done to assess the periodontal condition and dental caries status of the population. Results: The prevalence of dental caries was 83%. The mean DMFT was 2.60 among 35-44 year olds and 25.45 among 65-74 year olds. The mean number of sextants with bleeding and higher score was more among 35-44 year age group compared to 65-74 year age group. Females were found to have a higher mean number of healthy sextants compared to males. All six sextants were excluded in 97 (15.11%) subjects and healthy periodontium was seen in 36 (6.6%) subjects. Conclusion: The oral health status of the population was poor with a high prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease. This study provides a baseline data which can be used by the authorities for planning strategies for oral health promotion, prevention and treatment especially in case of Nepal where the available data are very scanty.