Dental caries status of Thai hilltribe students in the primary schools in Baukeaw Sub-district, Samoeng District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to obtain the dental caries status of Thai hilltribe students in the primary school in Baukeaw Sub-district, Samoeng District, Chiangmai Province. The data was collected by oval examinations in 153 children age 6 years (level 1) and in 143 children age 12 years (level 6). The results of the study showed that the primary school children age 6 years had dental caries status in milk teeth was 7.34 teeth per person (mean dmft) and in permanent teeth was 0.88 teeth per person (mean DMFT), 44.93% of first permanent molars teeth needed pit and fissure sealant. The mean DMFT of the primary school children age 12 years was 4.51 teeth per person. The average of mean dmft and mean DMFT of Baukeaw students was higher than groups of the same age in other parts of Thailand. The Hmong children had high prevalence of dental caries status than other hilltribe children. So the promotion of dental health education and prevention of dental caries in this group of Thai hilltribe students are very important.