Abstract
Aim: To investigate the prevalence and distribution of dental caries among 12 to 15 year old urban school children in Enugu, South-East, Nigeria.Methods: A multistage sampling technique was used to select the 353 school children that were studied. Presence of caries was identified by using semi structured interviewer administered questionnaires, mouth mirror and blunt probe under natural illumination. Data on presence of caries were recorded using WHO criteria of 1997.Results: Caries were diagnosed in 85 (24.1%) of the 353children. The total mean DMFT for the 353 children was 0.45 ± 0.53. The mean DMFT for boys was 0.35 ± 0.33 and for girls it was 0.54 ± 0.86. There was a general increase in mean DMFT with age. Caries was most prevalent in first molars (46.5%) while canines and first premolars were caries free. Caries were also observed more in the mandibular molars (23.29%).Conclusion: Caries prevalence was low compared to those obtained from previous studies. The prevalence gets worse with increasing age. To sustain the low prevalence, a cost effective preventive approach to caries should be used especially by the older children.
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