Prevalence of dental caries and the impact of
toothpastes and other factors in the oral health of School Children in Kathmandu
valley
Present
study was carried out among school children of Kathmandu valley to determine
the prevalence of dental caries and to know about the influence of other
factors including toothpaste on their oral health. Study age group was 5-6
years and 12-13 years. This study also specifies the correlation between dental
caries and other associated risk factors among the school children. Furthermore
this study evaluates the antimicrobial efficacy of locally used toothpaste
against primary and secondary infections causing dental pathogens. The study
was conducted from December 2007 to May 2008. Altogether 638 students (325 of
age group 12-13 years and 313 of age group 5-6 years) from 30 different schools
of Kathmandu valley were included for the study. Stratified cluster sampling
with proportional allocation was used while drawing schools samples. Dental
status examination was done with the help of trained and well calibrated
dentists. DMFT and DMFS were used as standard tools for the determination of prevalence.
Semi closed structured questionnaire were applied to know their oral health
knowledge, belief, attitudes, perception and to study the influence of
underlying factors on oral hygiene only
for 325 students of age group 12-13 years. For isolation and
identification of dental pathogens, 39 different samples from 39 patients were
collected from Bir Hospital Dental Department and Samaj Dental Clinic and were
immediately transported to RLABB, where laboratory work was carried out. They
were isolated, identified and subjected to antimicrobial potential test of
toothpaste by using standard microbiological methods. Both DMFT, DMFS and
caries percentage was found to be higher in age group 5-6 years than 12-13
years. DMFS and caries percentage of age group 5-6 years and 12-13 years was
found to be 3.79, 69% and 1.6, 53.23%
respectively. But no significance difference at p<0.001 was observed among
male and female of both age group. Strong correlation was found in dental
caries status and type of schools, diet, and toothpaste using habit. Out of 25
toothpastes used only 7 toothpastes showed observable antimicrobial activity
against all 4 test microorganisms viz... Streptococcus
mutans, S. sanguis, Lactobacilli species
and Candida albicans.
Key
words: School children, prevalence, Kathmandu valley, dental caries, dental
pathogens, toothpaste, antimicrobial potential.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This
project was carried out jointly by students of Central Department of
Microbiology, Tribhuvan University (CDM-TU) and Nepal Dental Association (NDA).
Thus we are grateful towards all concern faculties and staffs of CDM-TU for
their co-operation, guidance and NDA for providing us technical as well as
financial support. The laboratory work was carried out in Research Laboratory
for Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (RLABB), Maitidevi, Kathmandu, thus
we are also thankful towards RLABB family. We are genuinely obliged to our
honorable supervisors Prof. Dr. V.P. Agrawal, Associate Prof. Dr. Anjana Singh,
Mr. Kiran Babu Tiwari and Mr. Upendra Thapa Shrestha for their valuable
suggestions, enthusiastic and encouraging advices. Also we want to extend our
gratitude towards Dental Department of Bir Hospital and Samaj Dental Clinic for
providing samples.
Noteworthy
to this we are greatly indebted to senior statistician Mr. Anil Thapa for his
help during statistical analysis and Mr. Surendra Jnawali for his assistance in
software development and data entry. Also we want to show our sincere gratitude
towards Dr. Sushil Koirala, President Nepal dental association, Dr. Sudin
Shakya, co-ordinator Research and Social Service Committee, Joint Secretary
Nepal Dental Association and all members of NDA for their constant stimulation
and support. We want to express our thankfulness towards Mr. Kul Raj Rai,
President, Microbiological Student Association Nepal (MISAN) and all students
of CDM-TU for their support and help. Besides this we are gratified to all
dentists, enumerators, school family, students and others who have helped us
during field work. Furthermore we are also thankful towards our family and
friends for their assist, continuous moral support and motivation.
At
last we would like to acknowledge all concerned person, institution and
organization that helped us during research work directly or indirectly,
without their support the successful completion of this project was never
possible.
