Kariesbefall und Mundhygiene von 5- bis 15-Jährigen in Zentral-Bangladesh

The aim of this study was to asses the prevalence of dental caries and the situation of oral hygiene of 5-to-15-year-old children in central Bangladesh. Therefore 1016 children were checked. The children were divided in several social groups. They differed in children who went to private schools, to government schools, to village schools, in orphans and in slum children. The dmf-t-/DMF-T-Index and the df-s-/DF-S-Index were used to record the caries experience and the Plaque Index (PLI) was used to record the oral hygiene. 32,4% of 1016 test subjects were free of any caries. 1% had sanitated teeth and 66,6% had one or more decayed teeth. 32,3% of the children with milk-teeth were free of Karies. 0,7% had sanitated teeth and 67% had decayed teeth. 56,1% of the test subjects with permanent-teeth were free of caries. 1% were sanitated and 42,9% of the permanent-teeth were decayed. Following characteristics were found for the whole group: dmf-t: the average was 1,5 (median 0) DMF-T: the average was 1,1 (median 0) df-s: the average was 2,6 (median 0) DF-S: the average was 1,3 (median 0) PLI: the average was 1 - 1,5 (median 1,5) The level of caries experience of the girls were lower than those of the boys: dmf-t: boys: the average was 1,8 (median 0) girls: the average was 1,3 (median 0) DMF-T: boys: the average was 1,1 (median 0) girls: the average was 1,0 (median 0) df-s: boys: the average was 3,0 (median 0) girls: the average was 2,2 (median 0) DF-S: boys: the average was 1,3 (median 0) girls: the average was 1,2 (median 0) The average dmf-t-/DMF-T- and df-s-/DF-S-Index and PLI varied according to the kind of social status. By looking at the different characteristics of the oral health it is possible to realize clear differences: dmf-t: private school: the average was 2,6 (median 0) government school: the average was 2,35 (median 0) orphans: the average was 2,89 (median 0) slum: the average was 2,98 (median 0) village school: the average was 1,17 (median 0) DMF-T: private school: the average was 0,83 (median 0) government school: the average was 1,03 (median 0) orphans: the average was 1,06 (median 0) slum: the average was 0,75 (median 0) village school: the average was 1,2 (median 0) df-s: private school: the average was 3,4 (median 0) government school: the average was 2,2 (median 0) orphans: the average was 2,2 (median 0) slum: the average was 5,0 (median 0) village school: the average was 1,1 (median 0) DF-S: private school: the average was 1 (median 0) government school: the average was 1,3 (median 0) orphans: the average was 1,6 (median 0) slum: the average was 1 (median 0) village school: the average was 1,5 (median 0) PLI: private school: the average was 1 – 1,5 (median 1,5) government school: the average was 1 – 1,5 (median 1,5) orphans: the average was 1 – 1,5 (median 1,5) slum: the average was 1,5 – 2 (median 1,7) village school: the average was 1 – 1,5 (median 1,5) This study shows a low level of caries experience of 5-to-15-year-old children in central Bangladesh. An average DMF-T of 3 noticeably falls short of the aim of the WHO for the year 2000. Reasons for these findings are the prevailing traditional nutrition, the low level use of sugar and the frequent consumption of black tea with its caries protective effect. The low status of dental care is distinctly shown by the poor cure status. This requires a simple and cheap technology of filling teeth. This technology need not necessarily be applied by dentists, but by medical helpers as well. This demand is met by the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) which is both effective and economical. A preventive program, which should be coordinated with the WHO, is necessary as well. Permanent components of this program should be prophylactic instruction and widespread fluoridation measures such as table salt fluoridation in order to keep the level of caries experience as low as it is.