CARIES INDEX AND ORAL HYGIENE HABITS OF PATIENTS REPORTING AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: Study was conducted to determine caries index and oral hygiene habits of patients reporting at a teaching hospital.
Study Design: Cross sectional comparative study.
Place and Duration of Study: Outpatient department of Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry Rawalpindi from January to December 2005.
Patients and Methods: A total 500 subjects were interviewed with a self administered questionnaire both in English and Urdu. Participants, fulfilling the inclusion criteria were recruited by non-probability convenience sampling technique. Oral examination was carried out and decayed, missing and filled teeth were recorded on a proforma.
Results: People who were using no oral hygiene measure had mean delayed missing and filling teeth (DMFT) of 6.63 (SD = 3.86). Those using miswak/dandasa had mean DMFT 6.42 (SD = 3.62). Tooth brush users had mean DMFT 5.36 (SD = 3.81). Average DMFT was significantly lower in tooth brush users as compared to other twogroups (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Caries index of patients observing no oral hygiene measure was comparable to miswak/dandasa group and greater than individuals using tooth brush for oral hygiene.