DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i05.058

Pages: 1776-1780

The aim of the study was to assess oral health status and treatment needs of 5, 12 and 15 year-old orphanage children. A ‘Descriptive Cross Sectional Survey’ was conducted. Information on demographic characteristics of participants along with oral health behavior was collected. Clinical data were collected using WHO Oral Health Assessment Form (1997). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 17.0. A total of 180 children were examined. Prevalence of caries was highest in 12 year old females. Mean DMFT was 1.641.52 and 1.52 1.03 among 12 year old males and females, while mean DMFT of 15 year old males and females was 0.940.89 and 2.072.14 respectively with statistically significant difference. Most of the subjects required one surface filling, followed by extractions, pulp care and two surface fillings. In the age group of 5 and 12 years, majority of the study subjects were having healthy periodontium. The findings of the clinical examination highlighted untreated caries and no filled component which may be attributed to poverty, illiteracy, poor awareness and lack of oral health services.