PREVALENCE OF DENTAL CARIES AMONG ADOLESCENT STUDENTS.

Abstract

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Dental caries is an irreversible microbial disease of calcified tissues of teeth.
Despite numerous scientific progressions, it continues to be the focal public health problem,
particularly in developing countries. In 2016 it was leading disease affecting 2.4 billion people
globally. The disease is of concerned severe in adolescents, but no such studies have been
conducted in Pakistan, which involves the entire period of adolescence. METHODS: It was a
school-based cross-sectional study conducted from 19th September 2019 to 19th February 2020.
The sample size consists of 350 school students aged between 12-18 years from Private and
government schools of Shaheed Benazirabad. An intraoral examination was performed by the
researcher himself under strict protocol. DMFT scale was used to assess and measure dental caries.
Data was analyzed through SPSS v25. Statistical association with age, gender and type of school
was confirmed by chi-square test, independent sample t-test and bivariate analysis.
RESULTS: Overall prevalence of dental caries was 72% with mean DMFT 3.28±3.05. Prevalence
was high 89.2%in 18 years old students, 76.7% in boys and 77% in government schools. Statistical
analysis showed a significant association with age, gender and type of school.
CONCLUSION: Dental caries is a significant threat to the health of adolescents. Robust
preventive strategies incorporating health education, school health services and legislation should
be adopted to overcome the problem.