Prevalence of dental caries among rural children and effectiveness of playway method of teaching on dental hygiene in selected school children at PSG high school, vedapatti, coimbatore

Tooth-decay is the most common problem affecting 50% of the children during the middle childhood and 70% of the children during the late adolescent. Dental caries is an infectious disease, which can occur when calcinogenic bacteria colonizes a tooth surface in the presence of dietary carbohydrates, especially refined sugar. Objectives of the study: To assess the prevalence of dental caries among rural children and determine the effectiveness of play way method of dental hygiene among school children. Research Methodology: The study was conducted in PSG high school Vedapatti, Coimbatore and the research design adopted in this study was one group pretest post test. As per the inclusion criteria 177 children were selected using the stratified sampling technique. Screening was done using the DMFT score, the pre test score of knowledge and practice of dental hygiene was assessed and Fones brushing technique was taught to the children. After 15 days of teaching the post test score was assessed using the same questionnaires. Major findings of the study: Among 500 children 177 were affected by dental caries which was identified using the DMFT score. While comparing the pre test and post test scores of knowledge and practice on dental caries and hygiene there was a significant difference between the tests which indicates t = 28.77 and t = 8.24 at(p