National oral health survey in 6- and 12-year-old Bhutanese school children

Introduction: Dental caries is a highly prevalent and a significant public health problem affecting 70% to 95% of children, including adults in member states of the South East Asia region. Epidemiological data on the prevalence of dental caries amongst Bhutanese children at the national level is non...

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Main Author: Sonam Ngedup
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bh 2016-05-01
Series:Bhutan Health Journal
Online Access:https://bhj.com.bt/index.php/bhj/article/view/17
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author Sonam Ngedup
author_facet Sonam Ngedup
author_sort Sonam Ngedup
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Dental caries is a highly prevalent and a significant public health problem affecting 70% to 95% of children, including adults in member states of the South East Asia region. Epidemiological data on the prevalence of dental caries amongst Bhutanese children at the national level is non-existent. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries, periodontal status, traumatic dental injuries and fluorosis in 6-and 12-year-old school children. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey in two age groups of school children in Bhutan was conducted in 2014. A total of 2904 students participated in the survey. A multistage cluster random sampling method was adopted that included samples from both urban and rural schools. The assessments for dental caries and periodontal conditions were done as per modified WHO methodology and criteria. Dental trauma and fluorosis were identified as present or absent irrespective of severity levels. Results: Dental caries prevalence was 41.90% and 83.80% with mean DMFT/ dmft 0.80 and 5.54 for 12-and 6-year-olds respectively. Urban students had more caries than their rural counterparts. Overall, 13.00% of 12-year-olds had healthy gingiva but more calculus was detected in rural children. Dental trauma and fluorosis were very low (0.01% to 5.00%) in both the age groups. Conclusions: Caries prevalence was very high in 6-year-olds while periodontal status in 12-year-olds was poor. Rural school children had lower caries levels compared to their urban counterparts. Imparting oral health awareness among parents can lower caries severity in younger children.
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spelling doaj.art-a408921f85174ff1a85b0c0f31c9208e2023-10-25T10:27:40ZengKhesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of BhBhutan Health Journal2413-29932415-11142016-05-012181210.47811/bhj.1617National oral health survey in 6- and 12-year-old Bhutanese school childrenSonam Ngedup0https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5181-3747Dental Department, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan.Introduction: Dental caries is a highly prevalent and a significant public health problem affecting 70% to 95% of children, including adults in member states of the South East Asia region. Epidemiological data on the prevalence of dental caries amongst Bhutanese children at the national level is non-existent. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries, periodontal status, traumatic dental injuries and fluorosis in 6-and 12-year-old school children. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey in two age groups of school children in Bhutan was conducted in 2014. A total of 2904 students participated in the survey. A multistage cluster random sampling method was adopted that included samples from both urban and rural schools. The assessments for dental caries and periodontal conditions were done as per modified WHO methodology and criteria. Dental trauma and fluorosis were identified as present or absent irrespective of severity levels. Results: Dental caries prevalence was 41.90% and 83.80% with mean DMFT/ dmft 0.80 and 5.54 for 12-and 6-year-olds respectively. Urban students had more caries than their rural counterparts. Overall, 13.00% of 12-year-olds had healthy gingiva but more calculus was detected in rural children. Dental trauma and fluorosis were very low (0.01% to 5.00%) in both the age groups. Conclusions: Caries prevalence was very high in 6-year-olds while periodontal status in 12-year-olds was poor. Rural school children had lower caries levels compared to their urban counterparts. Imparting oral health awareness among parents can lower caries severity in younger children.https://bhj.com.bt/index.php/bhj/article/view/17
spellingShingle Sonam Ngedup
National oral health survey in 6- and 12-year-old Bhutanese school children
Bhutan Health Journal
title National oral health survey in 6- and 12-year-old Bhutanese school children
title_full National oral health survey in 6- and 12-year-old Bhutanese school children
title_fullStr National oral health survey in 6- and 12-year-old Bhutanese school children
title_full_unstemmed National oral health survey in 6- and 12-year-old Bhutanese school children
title_short National oral health survey in 6- and 12-year-old Bhutanese school children
title_sort national oral health survey in 6 and 12 year old bhutanese school children
url https://bhj.com.bt/index.php/bhj/article/view/17
work_keys_str_mv AT sonamngedup nationaloralhealthsurveyin6and12yearoldbhutaneseschoolchildren