Requirement of Dental Treatment for Permanent Teeth in Primary School students in Jatujak District, BMA

Abstract

Requirement of Dental Treatment for Permanent Teeth in Primary School students in Jatujak District, BMA

Somchit Tangjaiavorn   DDS.

Dental Health Division, Health Department, BMA

Objective: To determine oral health starts and dental treatment need for permanent teeth in primary school students at Jatujak district, BMA

Study Design: Survey research

Setting: Primary schools at Jatrjak district, BMA

Subjects: 1,596 primary school students grade 1-6 at Jatujak district, BMA

Methods: 1,596 primary school students were enrolled in this study. The study groups examined in order to study the decayed, missing and filled teeth or surface in permanent teeth, and the dental treatment need. The data were recorded in 1987 WHO oral health survey form.

Main outcome measures: Prevalence of caries in permanent teeth and first permanent molars, prevalence of first permanent molars exposed pulp. Means decayed missing and filled permanent tooth (DMFT) and decayed missing and filled permanent tooth-surface (DMFS), mean DMFT of first permanent molars was 1.01 (teeth/person). The study groups need filling 36.4%, scaling 19.5%, pit and fissure sealant 12.4%, extraction 5.9% and endodontic treatment 0.7%

Results: The prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth, first permanent molars and prevalence of first permanent molars exposed pulp were 45.7%, 43.7% and 6.5% respectively. Means DMFT and DMFS were 1.23 (teeth/person) and 1.82 (surface/person) respectively, mean DMFT of first permanent molars was 1.01 (teeth/ person). The study groups need filling 36.4%, scaling 19.5%, pit and fissure sealant 12.4%, extraction 5.9% and endodontic treatment 0.7%

Conclusion: Dental caries treatment program was started in primary schools for several years ago. However students about 45.7% and 6.5% still had dental caries in permanent teeth and first permanent molars exposed pulp respectively. If we considered the problem of inadequate service accessibility of endodontic treatment, the economic conditions of Thai society and the high cost of endodontic treatment, preventive dentistry for primary school students at level one and two should be more considered. Filling the first permanent molars should be done in primary school students at level three and four with average age between 8.5-9.5 years in order to minimize the first permanent molars exposed pulp. Furthermore, extraction was recommended for the unrestorable first permanent molars with pulp exposure in order to prevent and reduce the malocclusion problem which can complicate orthodontic treatment.

Key Words: Oral health starts, primary school students, dental treatment need

Vajira Med J 2005 ; 49 : 139 - 145