Assessment of oral health status of tribal students in Nashik district of Maharashtra state

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Background: Oral health is a state of well being and is essential to an individual's general health and quality of life. “Tribal” are the indigenous native people living in isolation in natural and unpolluted surroundings with their traditional values, customs and beliefs. The tribal constitute a substantial indigenous minority of the population in India, comprising of 9.01% of the nation's total population. The data on the Oral health status of students residing in tribal Dindori Taluka of Nashik District of Maharashtra State is still unrevealed. Hence, the present study was undertaken with the objective to provide baseline data about oral health status of students from the school and colleges of tribal Talukas from Nashik District of Maharashtra State in India. Aim: To provide baseline data about oral health status of students from the school and colleges of tribal Talukas form Nasik District of Maharashtra State in India. Methodology: The survey was carried out mostly on Second and Fourth Saturday by visiting the schools and Colleges from March 2018 to August 2019. The data was collected by personal examination of each student by using oral diagnostic instruments such as mouth mirror and probe. After visual examination, record of systematic observation and oral hygiene status was noted in participant's observation note. Consent from the principal/headmaster of the concerned college/school was taken, and the survey was done with their prior permission. Results: Out of total 1530 participants, oral hygiene status of 1263 (82.54 %) students was found to be affected while only 267 (17.46%) were found to be healthy. Affected participants were characterised by symptoms of ulcers, sores or tender areas in the mouth, bleeding or swollen gums, pain or toothache, bad breathing, calculus, pain with chewing or biting cracked or broken teeth and loss of attachment. Affected participants were characterised by symptoms of ulcers, sores or tender areas in the mouth, bleeding or swollen gums, pain or toothache due to dental caries, bad breathing, calculus, stain, pain with chewing or biting, cracked or broken teeth, loss of attachment and dental caries and facets. Affected participants required dental treatment like restoration of cavities in deciduous and/or permanent teeth, root canal treatment of permanent teeth, pulpotomy or pulpectomy of deciduous teeth, scaling, extraction of non restorable teeth and extraction of over retained deciduous teeth. Conclusion: Tribal students of dindori taluka in nashik district of maharashtra state were characterized by the lack of awareness about oral health, periodontal disease, dental caries and lack of dental care, high treatment needs and limited access to oral health services. Hence it is recommended to focus on improving the oral health status and treatment needs of this tribal students.