Assessment of Oral Health Status and Dental Treatment Needs Among 12- and 15-Year-Old School-Going Children of Fisherman Community Residing at East Coast Road, Chennai: A Cross-Sectional Study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess the dental treatment needs of 12- and 15-year-old school-going children of fishermen community residing at East Coast Road, Chennai. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 35 schools, 2 schools of private and government each were chosen to a final sample size of 650 students. Ethical clearance to conduct the research was obtained. A pilot study was undertaken during February 2012 at St. Joseph school, Kovalam to determine the feasibility of the study and also to determine the sample size. Examination was carried out by a single examiner to assess the treatment needs using World Health Organization Oral Health Surveys: Basic Methods pro forma (1997) excluding prosthetic treatment needs. The Chi-square test (χ(2)) was used to find out whether there existed a significant difference in the oral health status between 12- and 15-year-old school children and private and government school children. RESULTS: 12-year-old children and 15-year-old children had a mean decayed-missing-filled teeth value of 2.14 and 2.72, respectively. Majority of the study population 454 (241[68.8%] 12-year-old children and 213[71%] 15-year-old children) need one surface restoration. Majority of the study population 623 (95.8%) had community periodontal index (CPI) score of 2 (i.e., calculus), whereas only 27 (4.1%) of the study population had CPI score of 0 (i.e., healthy gums). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the oral health status of these children was poor with high caries prevalence and high Malocclusion.