To assess the correlation between caries prevalence and caries related factors in 6-12 year old children in various districts of Uttarakhand

Abstract

Introduction: The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of dental caries in 6–12 years old school going children in various districts of Uttarakhand including those visiting the OPD of the Department of Pedodontics and to correlate the caries status of the study population with the caries related factors. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on a sample size of approximately 1200 school going children (both males and females) aged 6-12 years. Oral examination of the children was performed and data was recorded with the help of Questionnaire which contained queries regarding the demographic details, oral hygiene habits, frequency of snacking and visits to the dentist. The findings of the present study were then recorded and analysed statistically. Results and Conclusion: The results of the present epidemiological study revealed that prevalence of dental caries was more in females, more in age group of 11-12 years children. It was noted that the children who did not brush their teeth or brushed once a day had a higher prevalence of caries. It was also seen that caries prevalence was more in children who consumed sweets and candy twice a day and in children who visited the dentist irregularly or had never visited a dentist. Keywords: Dental caries, Prevalence, Dietary habits, Oral hygiene, pH.