Prevalence Of Dental Problems In School Children - A Study In A Rural Community In Haryana

• Main Authors: Bajaj M, Blah B. C, Goyal M, Jain M, Joshi A, Ko H. H, Kumar A, Lal A, Mohan E. R, Nandi D, Sharma Z, Singh H, Wanyee S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 1989-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Community Medicine
• Online Access: http://www.ijcm.org.in/article.asp?issn=0970-0218;year=1989;volume=14;issue=3;spage=106;epage=109;aulast=Bajaj;type=0

This study was carried out by 13 undergraduate students during their rural posting in Community Medicine at Ballabgarh (Haryana). The Study was performed in a High School to find out the prevalence of dental problems and their probable etiology in 490 school children between 4-17 years of age. The prevalence of caries was found to be 65% and that of dental fluorosis was 40.4%. Consumption of refined sugar in the form of sweets between meals greatly enhanced the problem of dental caries. Plaque, Inadequate cleaning practices leading to poor dental hygiene, flurosis and the lack of earl medical intervention were other contributing factors. There was a lack of awareness about dental hygiene. Community therapy in the form of distribution of pamphlets, posters, giving health talks and a health talks and a health march was imparted with the aim of aiding the primary prevention of dental diseases.