IADR Abstract Archives
Gingival Health in School Girls in Nanyuki, Kenya
Objectives: The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of gingivitis and to evaluate the treatment needs of girls of poverty in Nanyuki, Kenya.
Methods: Eighty-seven girls from a private boarding school in Kenya were enrolled in the study. The girls ranged in age from 13 to 18 years, with a mean age of 16.1 ± 1.2 years. A clinical examination was performed on each girl by one standardized examiner. Both dental plaque and periodontal assessments were made on 4 surfaces per tooth (buccal, lingual, mesial, and distal) of all permanent teeth, except third molars. Bleeding on gentle probing (BOP) was used as an indicator of gingival inflammation.
Results: The prevalence of plaque and BOP in the girls was of 100% and 98.85%, respectively. 2361 teeth were evaluated. Mean ± SD of teeth with plaque and BOP in each girl was 26.92±1.43 and 10.75±7.44, respectively.
Conclusions: Gingivitis was a highly prevalent condition with 98,85% of the girls exhibiting gingival inflammation. All girls exhibited plaque.
As resources, both human and financial, are extremely limited, a focus on oral health promotion including prevention and education, is very much needed to improve oral health in this population.
Methods: Eighty-seven girls from a private boarding school in Kenya were enrolled in the study. The girls ranged in age from 13 to 18 years, with a mean age of 16.1 ± 1.2 years. A clinical examination was performed on each girl by one standardized examiner. Both dental plaque and periodontal assessments were made on 4 surfaces per tooth (buccal, lingual, mesial, and distal) of all permanent teeth, except third molars. Bleeding on gentle probing (BOP) was used as an indicator of gingival inflammation.
Results: The prevalence of plaque and BOP in the girls was of 100% and 98.85%, respectively. 2361 teeth were evaluated. Mean ± SD of teeth with plaque and BOP in each girl was 26.92±1.43 and 10.75±7.44, respectively.
Conclusions: Gingivitis was a highly prevalent condition with 98,85% of the girls exhibiting gingival inflammation. All girls exhibited plaque.
As resources, both human and financial, are extremely limited, a focus on oral health promotion including prevention and education, is very much needed to improve oral health in this population.