Evaluation of Caries Prevalence in Children of Rural Karad Area

Abstract

Dental caries is the most prevalent oral disease. Its very high morbidity potential has brought this disease into the main focus of the dental health profession. There is practically no geographic area in the world whose inhabitants do not exhibit some evidence of dental caries. It affects both the sexes, all races, all socioeconomic status, and all age groups.1 The seriousness and societal costs of dental caries in preschool children are enormous. National data shows that caries is highly prevalent in poor and near-poor Indian preschool children, yet this disease is infrequently treated. The etiology includes elevated colonization levels of Streptococcus mutans, frequent sugar consumption, and developmental defects in primary teeth. A necessary first step in preventing dental caries in preschool children is evaluating the child’s caries risk factors that include socioeconomic status, previous caries experience, presence of white spot lesions, presence of visible plaque, perceived risk by dental professionals, and microbiologic testing for the presence or quantity of S. mutans. Based on this knowledge, different preventive strategies, as well as different intensities of preventive therapies, can be employed.