The Prevalence of Dental Caries and its severity among the Adults Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Lagos. Nigeria

Abstract

Background

Dental caries is the most prevalent oral burden among visitors in dental institutions. The real disease burden of dental caries is the number of unmet needs or untreated caries.

Objectives

The study was designed to determine the occurrence and severity of dental caries in to relation age, sex and restorative care

Materials and Method

This was an institutionalized cross sectional study conducted amongst patients between ages 18years and above 60years over a period of three months in a tertiary institution in Lagos. Data was collected using a structured and clinical examination of consented individuals. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Chi-square test,  

independent t-test and descriptive statistics were used.

Results

A total of 408 participants were involved in this study. There were two hundred and seventeen females (53.2%) and 191 males (46.8%) with a mean age of 43.11 ± 17. 10years. The prevalence of dental caries was 43.9% which was statistically significant in relation with age, P=0.000

The mean DMFT was 2.46(±2.86). That of female was higher than that of males. M component score for females was higher than that of males while males had a higher F component score. The restorative index score was 26.9%. This was higher in males than females, although not statistically significant, p=0.13. Restorative index in relation to education was higher in participants with tertiary level of education. This was statistically significant, p=0.001

Conclusion

Oral health education and awareness should be promoted. There should be effective prevention and control strategies to slow the rate of increase in untreated caries. Finally, women should be empowered educationally and economically as regards maintenance of good oral health.