PREVALENCE OF DENTAL CARIES IN DENTAL AND MEDICAL STUDENTS OF DOW UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of dental caries in dental and medical students of Dow University of Health Sciences.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted. The study population consisted of 500 students, 200 from dental and 300 from medical class since overall population of medical students is greater than dental students in Dow University of Health Sciences. Undergraduate students under the supervision of trained postgraduates carried out the research. The data about oral hygiene practices was gathered by structured questionnaire. Oral examination was done using dental mirror and explorer. DMFT index was used to check dental caries. A range of age from 19 to 23 was kept in consideration in medical and dental students.
Results: A total DMFT score of 1.11 was calculated. In 468 students the average DMFT score appeared to be 1.09, and in 268 students of SMC average DMFT score 1.13. A total DMFT score of 1.11 was calculated. Dental students had less DMFT score (1.09) than medical students (1.13). It was also seen that first molars of all quadrants were more prone to dental caries than other teeth.
Conclusions: Under the limitation of the study it was concluded that both medical and Dental students need to be aware of the importance of oral hygiene practices and regular dental visits. Although the dental students are more aware of healthy oral hygiene so prevalence is low in dental subjects