Assessment of factors determining oral health status among adolescents residing in an urban area of North India
- Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Centre, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad- 244001, India.
- Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Centre, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad- 244001, India
- 3. Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Teerthanker Mahaveer Dental College and Research Centre, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad- 244001, India.
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Background: Oral health is fundamental to overall health and quality of life as it ensures social and physical well-being and acts as a mirror which reflects general health. Studies regarding the assessment of oral health would help in planning the preventive steps needed to keep the population disease free. Objectives: To assess factors determining oral health status among adolescents residing in an urban area of North India. Methodology: A cross sectional community based study was conducted among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years, residing in the field practice area of the Urban Health and Training Centre (UHTC). Total 1152 adolescents were included in the study. Results: Out of 1152 participants, 62.9% were male and 37.1% were female. Dental caries was found among 35.7% adolescents and 29.7% adolescents were having more than one type of oral morbidities. Among the 411 participants suffering from dental caries 229 (55.7%) were boys and 182 (44.3%) were girls. Tobacco addiction (chewing and smoking) was present in 216 (18.75%) of the participants. Only 15.3 % adolescents had good knowledge, and 34.5% adolescents had a positive attitude. Conclusion: Oral health is strongly related with frequency of mouth washing, type of cleaning aids and rinsing of mouth after meals. In order to make population disease free, awareness among adolescents about oral health is strongly recommended and also there should be availability of easily accessible and affordable oral health services.
[Siraj Ahmad, Md. Tauheed Ahmad, Chandan Agali R (2015); Assessment of factors determining oral health status among adolescents residing in an urban area of North India Int. J. of Adv. Res. 3 (May). 1420-1426] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com
