Campisi G, Buttacavoli F, Neri B, Capocasale G, Mauceri N, Mauceri R. Oral health status of 916 children in Tibetan settlement (Bylakuppe, India): A cross-sectional descriptive study.
Int J Paediatr Dent 2024. [PMID:
38659165 DOI:
10.1111/ipd.13193]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Dietary and oral hygiene habits among integrated migrant cultural minorities can vary and could impact susceptibility to caries.
AIM
This study aimed to assess and compare the oral health status of Tibetan schoolchildren living in the Tibetan settlement of Bylakuppe, India, stratified by type of residence.
DESIGN
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among Tibetan schoolchildren attending nine schools in the Bylakuppe region.
RESULTS
The study population consisted of 916 children aged 5-17: 702 (76.6%) living in secular houses (LSH) and 214 (23.4%) living in monasteries (LM). The prevalence of dental caries was 70.9%, and the mean value of decayed, missing, filled teeth for mixed and primary dentition (DMFT*; dmft) of LSH children (1.56 ± 2.34/1.74 ± 2.66) was higher than of LM ones (1.14 ± 2.34/0.83 ± 2.80; p < .001). DMFT for LM children (1.46 ± 2.04) was slightly higher than for LSH children (1.38 ± 1.96; p > .05). Among the sample, 99.1% had a good simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) and LM children showed higher rates of good values (99.5% vs. 98.2% in LSH children). Most children needed preventive/routine dental treatment, whereas 16.6% needed urgent dental treatment. In 4.5% of children, oral mucosal lesions were present.
CONCLUSION
This study confirms the high need for dental treatment in the children of the Tibetan settlement investigated.
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