The Correlation between Decayed Teeth and Difficulties on Bitting Foods

Objectives: The highest of primary decayed teeth is still mayor oral health problems in Indonesia. Decayed teeth among school children might have an impact on children’s daily activities including functional limitations such as difficulties on bitting foods. The study objective was to analyze the correlation between primary decayed teeth and difficulties on bitting foods.
Methods: An analytic study has been carried out on 665 school children in South Sumatera, in the age group of 5-6 years. The sampling technique was pathfinder survey. Data collected by using dental examination and self – assessment of oral health questionnaire based on WHO Oral Health Surveys Basic Methods 2013.
Results: This study showed that the number of primary decayed teeth in South Sumatera was 321 (48,3%). The percentage of children who had decayed teeth and had difficulties on bitting foods was 60,7%. There were significant correlation between primary decayed teeth and difficulties on bitting foods (p=0,000).
Conclusions: Mayority of the children who had primary decayed teeth having troubles in bitting foods.