The Periodontal Treatment Needs Of Adults, In Kenana Sugar State - Sudan

Periodontal disease is one of the most wide spread diseases in the world and is more prevalent in developing countries and primitive societies (Balem et al., 1988)(1). Periodontal disease in adults is a complex disease and has many possible aspects and causal factors (Wood et al., 1994)(2). Though the disease itself is difficult to delineate, however it is easier to define symptoms and signs of the disease, like gingival bleeding, tooth mobility, pocket depth and loss of attachment. In 1977, the World Health Organization (WHO), proposed a new index, the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) to measure the level of periodontal disease and to evaluate the periodontal treatment needs in communities (Oral Health Surveys – Basic Methods, 1997)(3). Since then CPITN has become widely accepted as the method of choice for epidemiological and screening studies of periodontal disease and for estimating periodontal prevention or treatment needs of populations. The dental services in Sudan (Fig.1) are characterized by a curative approach in general. However, the increased prevalence of periodontal disease as a result of poor oral hygiene will increase the need for preventive services. Very little information is available on periodontal treatment needs of Sudanese adults especially in rural areas and industerial settings. Kenana Sugar area, which lies in the White Nile State near Kosti town (Fig.2), represents an important layer of civilized population working at the sugar factory, most of them live with their families and have a good educational and an acceptable organized health services. Many villages surround the sugar factory site, which generally suffer from lack of good services including health . Most of the inhabitants of these settings are farmers or seasonal workers at Kenana sugar cane field(Fig.3). Since the effect of sugar cane and its product sugar on dental caries is widely documented(Frencken et al.1989)(4), the main purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of periodontal disease in adult populations in Kenana sugar area and to evaluate the periodontal treatment needs of these populations using the CPITN,comparing this with the rural population represented by the people of the nearest villages Nouri and Oum Gidian. This study, may give an idea about the recent periodontal status in adult Sudanese who are living in similar social and economic condition