Dental caries experience and treatment needs among 12-year-old schoolchildren in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the dental caries experience and treatment needs among 12-year-old schoolchildren in Chennai. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 714 12-year-old schoolchildren in Chennai. A cluster sampling methodology was used. Each school, which was selected through simple random sampling, was considered a cluster. New clusters were included until the desired sample size was achieved. Dentition status and treatment need index from the World Health Organization (WHO) oral health assessment form were used. From the raw data obtained, significant caries index score was calculated. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: At 12 years of age, the prevalence of dental caries was 31% with a mean decay of 0.57±1.03. Females had a higher level of caries than males. The “decayed” component was the biggest contributor to the decayed missing and filled teeth index. The highest treatment need was one surface restoration. Conclusion: The caries experience of 12-year-old children was low as compared to the WHO - “recommended” values. Effective oral health promotion strategies need to be implemented to further improve the dental health of schoolchildren in Chennai city.