Dental Survey of Children in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Objectives: A study was conducted in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The objectives were to determine (1) the oral health status (caries and fluorosis experience) and treatment needs of children in Jaipur, (2) the fluoride concentration in drinking water sources in Jaipur, and (3) possible caries risk factors.

Materials and method: Children aged 6 and 12 years from four socio-demographic areas were targeted in this study. Schools were stratified on the basis of socio-demographic status: rural, urban-upper middle class, -lower middle class, and -lower class. A total of 1600 children aged 6 and 12 years, that is, 400 in each of the socio-demographic classes constituted the sample size of study. Dental caries and fluorosis experience was determined according to WHO guidelines. A questionnaire was completed by the 12-year-olds to obtain information on oral health behaviour and exposure to caries risk factors.

Results: The mean dmft scores for 6-year-olds was 1.01 and 60% were caries-free. The equivalent DMFT scores for 12-year-olds were 0.50 and 72%, respectively. Fluorosis prevalence (very mild or more) was 51.5%. The results of the multiple variable logistic regression analysis indicated that most degrees of fluorosis were associated with significantly less caries experience compared with no fluorosis (ORs of 0.56 or less). Socio-demographic status was also a significant independent predictor of caries experience of caries. Compared with rural children, urban-upper middle class children were more than 50% likely to experience one or more DMFT (OR=1.56).

Conclusions: Caries experience in the primary and permanent dentitions of children is lower than the goals set by National Oral Health Care Programme (NOHCP). High levels of fluorosis are probably due to high levels of fluoride naturally occurring in drinking water (1.25-2.5 mg/L) in urban and rural area respectively, and this indicate that further control of dental caries in Jaipur must be achieved by means other than water fluoridation. Urban children are more likely to experience caries compared with rural children because of easy access to a rich sugar diet.