Assessment of Oral Health Status among School Going Children Oral Health Literacy Status among School Teachers in Thiruvallur District and Oral Health Component in School Syllabi

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineIntroduction: The restricted school activities for school children suffering newlinefrom dental diseases are higher including that of missing school than children newlinewho have healthy oral cavity. The role of teachers in shaping the behaviour is newlinealways commendable in schools where over 1 billion children worldwide at a newlinetime can be reached. newlineAim: To assess the oral health status of 6-18 years old school going children, newlineoral health literacy status among teachers in the Government Schools of newlineThiruvallur District and analyse the oral health component in syllabi. Suitable newlinestandardized forms namely the WHO oral health assessment form for newlinechildren(surface),2013 for recording clinical oral health status surface wise newlineand a self-administered WHO oral health questionnaire for adults for newlinerecording the oral health literacy status among teachers newlineMaterials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 750 newlinestudents and 750 teachers of Government Schools in Thiruvallur District using newlinestratified Sampling method and suitable standardized forms namely the WHO newlineoral health assessment form for children(surface),2013 for recording clinical newlineoral health status surface wise and a self-administered WHO oral health newlinequestionnaire for adults . newlineResults: The current study revealed the overall prevalence of dental caries in newlineprimary teeth was 33% and in the permanent teeth was 57%. It was found newlinethat 78 and 47 children had one missing permanent and primary missing tooth newlinerespectively.Nearly 74 out of 750 study participants were found to have newlinerestorative teeth out of which around 9.8% and 1.9% were found on the newlinepermanent and primary teeth respectively. The overall prevalence of fluorosis newlinein our found was found to be greater among girls than boys and 34 members newlinehad enamel erosions. About 77 children had fractured teeth due to trauma and newline0.3% had oral mucosal lesions. The overall prevalence of localized gingivitis newlinewas 446(59.5%) and its generalized form was 291(38.8%).About 747(99.6%) of newlinethe teachers use toothbrush routinely, 296(39.5%)