Oral Health Statusof 12 Year Olds in Turkey-2004

OBJECTIVE: To gather epidemiological information on caries prevalence, treatment needs, DMFT, Significant Caries Index (SiC) and dental fluorosis of Turkish 12-year-olds. METHODS: The representative study sample was comprised of 1,611 12-year-old children and selected by the State Institute of Statistics by using proportional stratified sampling methods. The sample was balanced by gender and one third of the total sample was from rural area. Children were examined in 2004 by calibrated dentistry students at home visit according to WHO methodology and diagnostic criteria (1997) and a structured questionnaire, concerning oral health behaviour and attitudes, were performed. RESULTS: In 12-year-olds, the mean DMFT score was 1.9; the prevalence of caries was 61.1%. The major component of the DMFT index was untreated decay (DT). No differences in DMFT scores were found according to sex and place of residence. SiC was found to be 4.33. Dental fluorosis was very uncommon (2.7%). Within the previous year, 61.3% saw a dentist and 94.8% reported that visits were due to troubles in teeth. One-fourth of the group stated that they had no toothbrush and tooth brushing once a day was claimed by 22.1%. Significant numbers of the children reported that they have eating habits between meals (87.4%). The need of preventive care was 59.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The DMFT of 12-year-old children was still well within WHO's global goal for the year 2000. However, further implementation of school based oral health promotion and application of population-directed preventive strategies is needed in Turkey in order to control dental caries.