Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs of 12-year-old School Children among Urban and Rural Areas of Raichur Taluk, Karnataka, India

INTRODUCTION: Oral health is an integral part of general health. Oral health status has a direct impact on general health, and conversely, general health influences oral health. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to assess oral health status and treatment needs of 12-year-old school children among urban and rural areas of Raichur Taluk, Karnataka, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1240 school children in the age group of 12 years from urban (620) and rural (620) areas of Raichur Taluk, Karnataka, India. Oral health status was assessed using the World Oral Health assessment form 1997. RESULTS: The prevalence of caries in urban and rural areas of school children was 63.5% and 64.5%, respectively. The mean decayed teeth, missing teeth, filled teeth, and decay, missing, filled teeth of school children in Raichur Taluk were 1.15 ± 1.20, 0.0, 0.03 ± 0.23, and 1.19 ± 1.21, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for preventive and curative oral health services and should be made integral to other health programs. Oral health promotion strategies need to be implemented to improve the oral health of primary school children. Health education should be given regarding the prevention of dental caries by maintaining good oral hygiene.