Caries experience of 5-6-year-old and 12-13-year-old schoolchildren in central and western Nepal

Abstract

Objective: To describe and analyse the caries experience and caries prevalence in the deciduous dentition of 5-6-year-old schoolchildren and in the permanent dentition of 12-13-year-old schoolchildren in western and central Nepal. Design: Non-randomised cross-sectional surveys conducted by trained and calibrated examiners. Setting: Surveys were conducted in private and government rural and urban schools at 10 sites along the Terai and the foothills in eight districts of western and central Nepal. Subjects: A total of 2,177, 5-6-year-old and 3,323, 12-13-year-old schoolchildren from urban and rural areas were examined under WHO Pathfinder methodology. Outcome measures: Prevalence of caries and dental caries experience (dmft/DMFT). Results: The caries prevalence and mean dmft score of 5-6-year-olds was 67% and 3.3 (urban 64% and 2.9; rural 78% and 4.0). The caries prevalence and mean DMFT score of 12-13-year-olds was 41% and 1.1 (urban 35% and 0.9; rural 54% and 1.5). The d/D-component constituted almost the entire dmft/DMFT index. Conclusion: The recorded prevalence of untreated dental caries in school-children requires an appropriate oral health response based primarily on prevention and health promotion. Foremost in this regime would be the promotion and use of accessible and affordable fluoridated toothpaste.