Comparison of Oral Health Problems in Children: A Cross Sectional Survey in Pakistan

Aim: To determine and compare the oral health, in term of oral health, community periodontal and DMFT index, of primary and elementary school children. Subjects and method: In this study 694 students were examined for oral health. 347 students were from primary school whereas other half were from elementary school. The sample population was selected via a purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using Simplified oral health index (OHI-s), community periodontal index (CPI) and decay missing Filled tooth (DMFT). Results: in the study 39(11.2%) of primary school students and 49(14.1%) of elementary school students have poor oral hygiene. Similarly among primary school students 62(17.9%) have bleeding gums and 30(8.6%) of the students have calculus teeth. Among elementary school students 74(21.3%) have bleeding gums and 40(11.5%) of the students have calculus teeth. Conclusion: In primary and elementary school students simplified oral health index and community periodontal index was satisfactory and no difference was observed whereas on the basis of decay missing Filled tooth index primary school students have low average score. Keywords: Oral health, school, children, cross sectional survey