Prevalence of Dental Caries among 5-14 Years Old Poor Locality School Children of Lahore

The aim of study was to investigate the Prevalence of dental caries among 5-14 years old poor locality school children of Lahore Pakistan. Sixteen hundred and seventy three poor locality school children aged 5-14 years; 1113, 5-11 years old and 560, 12-14 years old were examined for dental caries and oral hygiene status using the World Health Organization criteria for diagnosis of caries and oral hygiene status. The overall caries prevalence among the study group was 71%. The mean df (decayed and filled primary teeth) score in the 5-11 years age group was 2.98. The mean DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) score among 12-14 years old age group it was 3.70. Only 14% of the poor locality school children had good oral hygiene with corresponding mean df of 1.33 and mean DMFT score of 1.97, followed by 31% having fairly good oral hygiene, 26% having poor oral hygiene. 29% of children had a very poor oral hygiene with corresponding mean df score of 2.96 and mean DMFT score of 3.31. The results of the study emphasize the need for re-orientation of oral health services and programs to a more preventive approach. Serious efforts need to be made by focusing on this neglected group of population.