Dental Treatment Needs Among Secondary Schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia

This presentation is a part of a larger study about fluoride levels in drinking water and its correlation with dental caries and fluorosis in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To determine the different types of dental care and treatment needs that should be provided to Saudi secondary schoolchildren between the ages of 15 and

18 years.

Methods: Twelve thousand two hundred and eighty children aged 15-18 years were assessed for dental caries and treatments need, like one or more surface fillings, crown and bridges, laminated veneers, pulp-care, and extractions. The data was assessed for any statistical significant variations among the different regions.

Results: Northern Frontier region's children showed the lowest DMFT value (2.06) and the highest was seen in Asser (4.7). A significant high prevalence of dental caries in females was reported in all regions except Northern Frontier region. For the need of one surface filling Aseer showed the highest percentage (73%) with 2.69 teeth/child. The lowest need for such treatment was seen in Northern Frontier region (41%) and with 1.2 teeth/child. The need for crown-bridge was the highest in Tabouk (26%) and was the least in northern Frontier region (5.6). Children in Tabouk showed the highest need for extraction.

Conclusion: The data obtained from this study showed the great need for different types of dental treatments among this age group of children. This information should

help to plan for an effective curative and preventive programs to meet these huge dental demands.