Caries Experience among Males and Females School Children

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the caries experience in males and female primary school children. Methods: 141 males and 159 females pupils from rural and urban schools were chosen using random sampling. A structured questionnaire was given to each pupil to complete. Oral examination was done under natural light using dental mirror and probe. The surfaces of the teeth were cleaned with gauze prior to examination. Results: The results showed that 65% of all male pupils had dental caries, 59.8% females had caries and 41.3% were caries free. Among the rural pupils females had higher caries experiencethan males 63.0% and 55.9% respectively. Among urban pupils the opposite was found, where males had a higher caries experience, 74.0% compared to 54.6% in females. There was a significant difference in caries free males in rural (44.1%) compared to urban (26.0%) males. Conclusion:The caries experience in both males and females is high in both rural and urban schools and may be related to oral hygiene practices and consumption of soft drinks