Oral health status and treatment needs among health-care workers in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh India

Abstract

Objectives: To assess oral health status and treatment needs of the health workers in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among health workers in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh. A sample of 130 was selected by selecting three blocks randomly to get a required sample size of 126. Clinical recordings were done according to the World Health Organization diagnostic criteria 1997. The data were analyzed using SPSS package, Chicago, IL, version 16.0. The statistical tests used were t-test and ANOVA. A P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the study population was 48.42 ± 5.94 with a range of 25-57. The prevalence of dental caries in the present study was 80%. The mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth were 6 ± 5.42 and were higher in females and the age group of 55-64 years. Only 17 (13.1%) had healthy periodontium and calculus was found in 49 (47.7%) subjects. The need for prosthesis in upper jaw and lower jaw was for 33 (25.3%) and 61 (46.9%), respectively. Conclusion: The caries experience of the population was quite high. Hence, there is a need for treatment camps, and regular follow-up checkups for the health workers in Shimla district.