The Hindu : New Delhi News : Capital fares poorly in nation’s oral health report card

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 31, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Capital fares poorly in nation’s oral health report card

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

Delhiites in 35 to 44 age group record highest prevalence (83 to 86 per cent) of dental caries

NEW DELHI: Finally a report card on the nation’s oral health and the Capital unfortunately hasn’t fared well.

Delhiites in the age group of 35 to 44 years have recorded the highest prevalence (83 to 86 per cent) of dental caries -- infectious disease which damages the structures of the teeth – according to a recently released multi-centric collaborative study titled “Oral Health in India” conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Health Organisation.

The Capital shares the spot with Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

Delhi at 61 per cent had the second highest reported prevalence of gingival bleeding (bleeding from the gums) among its 12-year-olds, with Orissa at 70 per cent reporting the highest.

Third

The Capital at 5.3 per cent stood third, after Arunachal Pradesh (8.8 per cent) and Maharashtra (5.4 per cent) in the list of seven surveyed sites in terms of reporting patients with decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth.

For the survey in Delhi, the south-west district of the city was selected for its mixed population having urbanised colonies and villages. The results showed that dental caries was about 50 per cent among children, and in adults the prevalence of gingival bleeding was reported to be very high in both 35 to 44 years and 65 to 74 years population.

Gingival bleeding is considered as one of the parameters for checking overall oral hygiene performance.

It was also found that geriatric population here had poorer oral health indicators compared with all other age groups.

The report has recommended that people in the Capital need to be made more aware about oral hygiene practices and use of sugar and beverages. Also oral health care services needed improvement in the city.

Giving a picture of the oral health scenario in the country, the report notes that among the surveyed population dental caries was found in about half of the children and three-fourth of adults and elderly population. Severe gum diseases were also seen in about 40 per cent of adults and 70 per cent geriatric population.

Awareness

“There is an urgent need to address the oral health problems by increasing the level of awareness and provision of dental care in all the areas and more particularly in rural areas. These reports are particularly useful for health care policy planners, health education, advocacy groups and all the people concerned about the health care and quality of life,” said Director General of Health Services, Health and Family Welfare Ministry, R. K. Srivastava.

Oral diseases are one of the most common of non-communicable diseases affecting varied population, according to the report.

The survey covered Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and assessed the dental health among children, adults and elderly population in both urban and rural areas of select areas there.

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