Oral health status of 916 children in Tibetan settlement (Bylakuppe, India): A cross-sectional descriptive study

Background

Dietary and oral hygiene habits among integrated migrant cultural minorities can vary and could impact susceptibility to caries.

Aim

This study aimed to assess and compare the oral health status of Tibetan schoolchildren living in the Tibetan settlement of Bylakuppe, India, stratified by type of residence.

Design

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among Tibetan schoolchildren attending nine schools in the Bylakuppe region.

Results

The study population consisted of 916 children aged 5–17: 702 (76.6%) living in secular houses (LSH) and 214 (23.4%) living in monasteries (LM). The prevalence of dental caries was 70.9%, and the mean value of decayed, missing, filled teeth for mixed and primary dentition (DMFT*; dmft) of LSH children (1.56 ± 2.34/1.74 ± 2.66) was higher than of LM ones (1.14 ± 2.34/0.83 ± 2.80; p < .001). DMFT for LM children (1.46 ± 2.04) was slightly higher than for LSH children (1.38 ± 1.96; p > .05). Among the sample, 99.1% had a good simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) and LM children showed higher rates of good values (99.5% vs. 98.2% in LSH children). Most children needed preventive/routine dental treatment, whereas 16.6% needed urgent dental treatment. In 4.5% of children, oral mucosal lesions were present.

Conclusion

This study confirms the high need for dental treatment in the children of the Tibetan settlement investigated.