Prevalence Of Dental Caries In Kenana Area ٢٠٠٥

The design of this study was cross sectional, in which samples from school children in the three areas were examined. In addition adults from the same areas were also investigated. The objectives of this study were to: (١)To assess dental caries prevalence among three age groups ١٠-١٢, ١٥-١٦ and ٢٠- ٦٥ in Kenana, Nouri and Oum Gidian villages for comparison. (٢) To compare the prevalence of dental caries reported ٢٠ years earlier with the results of the present investigation, using the DMFT index. (٣) To investigate the relationship between habitual sugar cane chewing over a long period (٢٠ years) in the three areas and the prevalence of dental caries. The total sample size was ٨٦٥ subjects, Kenana (٦٦٪), Nouri village (١٦٪) and Oum Gidian village (١٨٪). WHO criteria using (DMFT) and the Modified Dean’s indices for dental fluorosis were used to assess dental caries and dental fluorosis, respectively. All subjects were questioned about their oral hygiene and dietary habits, including tea, candy and raw sugar cane usage. Water samples were collected from the main water sources and containers in schools were analyzed for fluoride concentratios. The results obtained were ٠,١٥, ١,٠ and ١,٥ mg/L in Kenana, Nouri and Oum Gidian villages, respectively. The most significant findings of this study were the following: ١- There was above optimal level of fluoride in Nouri and Oum Gidian villages (١,٠-١,٥ mg/L) with higher scores of dental fluorosis and less dental caries prevalence, while the below optimal fluoride in Kenana resulted in lower scores of dental fluorosis and more dental caries prevalence (among other reasons). The relationship between the prevalence of dental caries and dental fluorosis was statistically significant (P<٠,٠٥). ٢- Males showed more prevalence of dental fluorosis than females. ٣- Younger age groups in the three areas showed less DMFT than the older children. ٤- The relationship between the prevalence of dental caries and sugar cane chewing was statistically significant (P