Prevalence of Dental Caries among 10-17 Years Old Children of a Selected School of Narayanganj, Dhaka

Abstract

Introduction: Dental Caries is the most common and frequent disease affecting 60- 90% of all children across the world. Because Dental caries later results into tooth pain, discomfort, eating disorder, edentulism, delayed language development. Approximately, 80% of children attend lower secondary school so ensuring to have preventive oral health services in school would help them stay healthy and ready to learn about oral diseases. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries among 10- 17 years old children of a selected school in Narayanganj. Methods: This was a descriptive type of cross-sectional study conducted at ‘Fotullah Pilot High School’, Narayanganj, Dhaka on 6th February 2016. Result: In total 252 children completed the study. In our study we found that among the total 252 subjects 58 were boys and 194 were girls. Total caries prevalence was found 53.97% where 27.20% were boys and 72.79% were girls. Significant Caries (SiC) Index was found 1.89. The Global Goals for Oral Health in the year 2000 proposed to reduce the SiC index among the 12-year-olds to less than 3 DMFT by the year 2015, globally. The mean DMFT value was found 0.7 for the age group (10-17) year’s old children. We also found mandibular caries rate 67.65% is higher than maxillary caries rate 32.35%. In case of boys the maxillary caries rate 45.94% is higher than girls 28.12%. And in case of girls the mandibular caries rate 72.73% is higher than boys 54.05%. Conclusion: Dental caries prevalence in rural areas of Bangladesh is lower than that of urban population. In this study we also found it satisfactory. But as development is progressing in rural areas, consumption of fast foods & chocolates is increasing day by day in rural areas as well which will increase caries prevalence in near future if oral hygiene instruction is not provided in school curriculums.