Oral Health Status of Martyr Memorial Residential School Children of Sunsari, Nepal

Abstract

Context: Students, who are healthy, active, and well nourished, are likely to attend schools regularly which accelerate their learning process. Poor oral health has a profound effect on general health and quality of life. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status of Martyr Memorial Residential School Children of Sunsari, Nepal, during 5-year period and also to assess the effectiveness of school oral health program. Settings and Design: A retrospective longitudinal study was carried out among Martyr Memorial Residential School children. Subjects and Methods: Aretrospective longitudinal study was performed among 411 school children of Martyr Memorial Residential School, Sunsari, Nepal. Five years' data of children were collected from the department record forms from 2009 to 2014. Data on demographic parameters, oral health condition (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth [DMFT], oral hygiene status, type of dentition, malocclusion, and diet history), and treatment done for each child were collected from the surveyed forms. Statistical Analysis Used: Frequency distribution, prevalence, and incidence of dental caries were calculated. Results: This study showed that the prevalence of dental caries in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 was 21.0%, 23%, 29.1%, 10.0%, 13.5%, and 30.9%, respectively. The incidence of dental caries in permanent dentition was high (22.0%) in 2011 follow-up. None of the dentition developed new cavity in 2010 follow-up period. More than half of the children had good oral hygiene status in 2012, whereas only 32.9% had so in 2009. Majority (95.5%) of the enrolled children had normal occlusion. Conclusions: This study showed the overall positive impact on the children's prevalence and incidence of dental caries as well as on oral hygiene status. The incidence of developing new caries in both types of dentition decreased. There was an increase in filled component of DMFT/decayed, filled teeth index. Most of them had good oral hygiene status at the end of the study.