Prevalence and Severity of Dental Caries in school students aged 6 - 11 years in Tafelah Governorate –South Jordan: Results of National Woman’s Health Care Center Survey

Aims: To determine the prevalence, and severity of dental caries in school children of Tafeleh Governorate –South of Jordan aged 6-11 years and to evaluate the oral hygiene habits among them as a part of National Woman’s Health Care Center Survey. Methods: A cross-sectional census was conducted on 999 public school students aged 6-11 years (mixed dentition stage) living in 3 different parts of Tafeleh Governorate. All students were examined for Decay-Extracted–Fillings for deciduous teeth (deft) DecayMissing–Fillings (DMFT) for permanent teeth, information about oral hygiene habits was recorded. Results: Caries prevalence was 70.6% and 28% for deciduous and permanent teeth respectively with a mean deft and DMFT 3.2 and 0.2. 34.3% of the examined students never brushed their teeth. Conclusions: The results indicated that more than 50% of examined students in this age group have caries in their teeth with deft, DMFT 3.2 and 0.2 respectively. It is important for those school children to be closely assessed in order to provide dental care, enhance dental awareness and to allow different preventive measures to be implemented.