Epidemiology of Dental Caries in a Rural Area in India

Objectives: Data on oral health status from rural parts of the Indian subcontinent appears to be sparse. The purpose of the study was to assess the oral health status and dental treatment needs of a rural Indian population. Methods: The study population consisted of 189 volunteer subjects from the village of Kachchh, with a mean age of 34.9+14.2 years and 54% males. Dental caries experience was assessed by decayed, missing due to caries and filled teeth (DMFT) and tooth surfaces (DMFS). Structured interviews collected about the participants' perception of health including oral health, tooth brushing and snacking habits. Results: While only 38.1% perceived themselves to be in good or very good dental health, 84.6 % felt the same about general health. Although, more than 80% reported brushing their teeth at least once a day, very small proportion used dental floss (0.5%) or mouth rinse (1.6%). The most common sugar exposure was through sweetened tea, with 75% of respondents consuming the beverage at least once a day. More than 80% of the study participants had untreated caries and the mean DMFT and DMFS scores were 5.1±3.9 and 13.8±17.8, which did not show any gender differences. The dental treatment needs ranged from 16.9% two-surface fillings to 60.8% one-surface fillings; 23.8% crowns or bridges and 37.6% extractions. The proportion of D/DMFT in the study sample was 56.4%. Those who perceived themselves to be in better oral health had significantly lower DMFT (4.0±3.2 vs. 5.9±4.1) and DMFS (8.4±11.7 vs. 17.1±20.0) scores (p<0.05). A similar trend was observed between perception of general health and DMFT (4.8±3.4 vs. 7.0±5.6) as well as DMFS (11.9±13.7 vs. 24.1±30.7) scores. Conclusions: Results indicate high levels of dental caries as well dental treatment needs among a rural East Indian population.