Prevalence of dental caries (DMFT) in Iraqi children and adolescent living in areas with low and high level of natural fluoride

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries in a group of school children lived in area with high and low natural fluoride contained drinking water in Ninevah governorate. The study is conducted among (1724) schools students aged 11-16 years from randomly selected schools (primary and intermediate) in two provinces in Ninevah governorate. Eight hundred and thirteen students who had lived since birth in high natural fluoride level area (Sinjar province)(2.05-222 ppm) and (911) students lived continuously from birth in low natural fluoride level area in their drinking water (Talkaif province)(0.11-0.19 ppm). WHO methodology (1997) has been used to assess the dental caries status and using DMFT index for permanent teeth. The results show that in Sinjar province the mean DMFT for total samples were (1.67) and (36.2%) are caries free with no sex difference. while there is a significant age differences. On the other hand, in Talkaif province the results reveal higher DMFT (3.7) and lower percent of caries free (19.1%), The mean DMFT reported twice in Talkaif province than Sinjar province with highly significant differences between them. The percentage of reduction of dental caries has been found to be (54.3%) in Sinjar province compare to Talkaif province.