Spokesman News Service
Chandigarh
The prevalence of dental fluorosis dental caries, and associated risk factors in the school children of district Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, India is 4.1 percent, which might be linked to a high concentration of fluoride in drinking water at certain locations of rural Punjab, this face has been highlighted in a study done by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).
The study was done by School of Public Health, PGIMER aimed to assess the prevalence of dental fluorosis, dental caries, and associated risk factors in the school children of district Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab. The study was done, using a cross-sectional study design.
Four hundred school children were examined, of which 207 were in the 8–11-year-old group and 193 were in the 12–15-year-old group. The overall prevalence of dental fluorosis was 4.1 percent, which might be linked to a high concentration of fluoride in drinking water at certain locations of rural Punjab.
The prevalence of dental caries was 36.5 percent with a mean DMF score of 0.3 and def score of 0.6. Risk factors for dental caries include oral hygiene behavior and sugar consumption patterns. The study highlights the need to increase awareness about the oral health and hygiene among the school children in India.
Oral health status of children aged between 8 and 15 years was assessed using World Health Organization (WHO) 2013 criteria. Dental fluorosis was assessed using Dean’s index, and dental caries was recorded using decayed, missing, filled/decayed, extracted, filled (DMF/def) indices.
Key highlights:
• School children of 8–15 years old were examined for dental fluorosis in a rural district, which has a prevalence of 4.1 percent.
• Major risk factor for fluorosis includes groundwater fluoride content and tea consumption.
• Prevalence of dental caries was 36.5 percent, affecting rural children more compared to their counterparts.
• Risk factors for dental caries include oral hygiene behavior and certain sugar consumption patterns.
• There is a need to increase awareness about the oral health and hygiene among school children.