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DENTAL CARIES AND PERIODONTAL CONDITIONS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN MOROGORO MUNICIPALITY, TANZANIA
Abstract
Objective: To describe the occurrence of dental caries ;and periodontal conditions among
standards three and fbur primary school children in Morogoro municipality and compare
the obtained oral health indicators with the goals stipul:rtcd in the National Plan for Oral
Health by the year 2002.
Design: Cross sectionall study of the oral health status among eight to 15-year old primary
school children.
Setting: Primary schools in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania.
Subjects and methods: A total of 1297 standards three and four children in five primary
schools randomly selected from a list of 36 primary schools of Morogoro municipality were
examined for oral health status. Dental caries and periodontal status were recorded using
the criteria described in the WHO manual for Oral health Surveys, Basic Mcthods (1997).
Oral cleanliness was assessed using plaque index.
Main oitlcotne rnea.surp:i.: Dental caries prevalence, experiencc and its distribution by tooth
type and jaw and prevalence and severity of periodontal conditions and oral cleanliness.
Results: Seventy six percent of the children wcre caries free, and the mean DM-T was 0.41.
No fillings were encountered. Seventy six per cent of carious lesions were in pits and fissures
oflower molars. Only 2;1% ofthe caries lesions were in the pits and fissures of upper molars.
Seventy five per cent of the children had all sextants wit11 no gingivitis or calculus. Mean
sextants with gingivitis, calc.olus and visible plaque were 0.25,0.69 and 2.44 respectively.
Conclusions: Standard four and standard four children in Morogoro municipality primary
schools had very low levels of dental caries, good oral hygiene and a very low prevalence of
gingivitis. No restorative trcatlnent had been provided to these pupils. It is recommended
that Morogoro municipidlity should start a dental caries treatment programme in primary
schools in order to attain the national goal of 10% of the "F" component of
DMF-T by the year 2002.
standards three and fbur primary school children in Morogoro municipality and compare
the obtained oral health indicators with the goals stipul:rtcd in the National Plan for Oral
Health by the year 2002.
Design: Cross sectionall study of the oral health status among eight to 15-year old primary
school children.
Setting: Primary schools in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania.
Subjects and methods: A total of 1297 standards three and four children in five primary
schools randomly selected from a list of 36 primary schools of Morogoro municipality were
examined for oral health status. Dental caries and periodontal status were recorded using
the criteria described in the WHO manual for Oral health Surveys, Basic Mcthods (1997).
Oral cleanliness was assessed using plaque index.
Main oitlcotne rnea.surp:i.: Dental caries prevalence, experiencc and its distribution by tooth
type and jaw and prevalence and severity of periodontal conditions and oral cleanliness.
Results: Seventy six percent of the children wcre caries free, and the mean DM-T was 0.41.
No fillings were encountered. Seventy six per cent of carious lesions were in pits and fissures
oflower molars. Only 2;1% ofthe caries lesions were in the pits and fissures of upper molars.
Seventy five per cent of the children had all sextants wit11 no gingivitis or calculus. Mean
sextants with gingivitis, calc.olus and visible plaque were 0.25,0.69 and 2.44 respectively.
Conclusions: Standard four and standard four children in Morogoro municipality primary
schools had very low levels of dental caries, good oral hygiene and a very low prevalence of
gingivitis. No restorative trcatlnent had been provided to these pupils. It is recommended
that Morogoro municipidlity should start a dental caries treatment programme in primary
schools in order to attain the national goal of 10% of the "F" component of
DMF-T by the year 2002.
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