An investigation of Oral Health Status of A group of Libyan Children and Its Relation to Home Care.

Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the oral health status of a group of Libyan children who attending the children's department at the faculty of dentistry / Benghazi.
To assess the frequency of home care measure.
Dietary habit and its role in their oral health.
Methods: Two hundred and eight healthy children (mean age of 8.0) were included in the study. The samples were subdivided into 3 age groups (42 children in <6yrs old, mixed dentition 6-12 yrs old n=139) and older group >12 yrs old n= 27). Non-invasive and a modified and simplified procedures to examine their periodontal health and caries experience. Both the extent and the degree of gingivitis severity were assessed in the incisor area of the maxilla and the incisor and canine area of the mandible in the anterior teeth by using extent of gingivitis(EG) and gingivitis severity(GS) indices. The individual gingival units (papillae (P), Margins (M) and attached gingivae(A)) were assessed for the presence of inflammation based on visual examinations. The extent and severity of inflammation were measured by scoring the colour changes of the most severe gingival units in both index teeth and forming a mean for both jaws. The caries experience were assessed by using dmft for deciduous teeth and DMFT for permanent teeth.
Results: EG&GS were assessed and majority (206 out of 208 of children) suffered different degrees of gingival inflammation. Untreated carious lesions were present in 205 out of 208 children of the study group. Lack of home care practice and increased frequent intake of sugary diet found in majority of examined children.
Conclusions: there has been more untreated caries and more pronounced gingival inflammations of various degrees due to lack of proper dental care.