Oral Health Indices among Secondary School Students in Assiut Governorate; Upper Egypt

Abstract

Background & Objective(s):There is limited published data on Egyptian oral epidemiologic health status especially among adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate oral health status and their associated variables among secondary school students in Assiut Governorate; Upper Egypt. Methods: : A cross sectional study was conducted on 872 students using a representative sample from public, private and technical secondary schools. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire including inquires about sociodemographic data, oral health behaviors and selfperception of oral health. Oral health was assessed by Decayed Missing Filled Teeth index (DMFT), Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), and Basic Periodontal Examination index (BPE). Results: Prevalence of oral health diseases was as follow; dental caries was 47.5%, gingivitis was 31%, while periodontitis was 15.7%. About 80% of the students owned a toothbrush; however 25% of them never perform teeth brushing. Unfavorable OHI-S score was significantly positively correlated with worse DMFT and BPE scores. Concurrently, BPE index was significantly positively correlated with DMFT index. Females had higher risk for unfavorable DMFT scores compared to males. Increased age, female gender, enrollment in technical schools, and bad/ unknown selfperception of oral health were significant predictors of worse periodontal scores. The significant predictors of worse oral hygienic scores were increased age, enrollment in technical schools, and bad/ unknown self-perception of oral health. Conclusion: Considerable proportions of students suffered from oral health disorders. Unfavorable oral health indices were related to female gender, technical school enrollment, increasing age and bad/unknown self-perception of oral health. Oral health indices are compatible with each other; where healthier oral hygiene condition is correlated with better dental and periodontal oral health statuses. Superior periodontal status is correlated with favorable dental condition.

Gingival Health and Periodontal Diseases during Puberty in Females Students in Maal High School in Omdurman, Sudan (2021 – 2022)

“…In our study we found that 60 % of female's students had a good oral hygiene because 52.50 % brush their teeth twice and 56.25% brush for 5 minutes. This finding was in agreement with study done by Mohamed Edrees et al ,in Egypt which found that 59.3% of the students perceived their oral health as good or very good, because 25.6% brush twice and 41% brush more than 2 minutes , only 10% used inter dental aids which is dental floss (9). Also in our study we found that more than half used inter dental aids mainly interdental brush this reflect their good awareness regarding their important in inter proximal plaque and food removal which preventing gingival and periodontal diseases.…”

Oral self-care behavior and its influencing factors in a sample of school children from Central Iran

“…Consistent with our findings, daily flossing by Iranian students was reported by Pourhaji et al, [31] and Soltani et al, [27] to be 44.8 and 31%, respectively. Compared to other countries, the rate was 19.6% in a study by Farsi in Saudi Arabia [32], 13.1% in Japan [33], 7.3% in Nigeria [34], and 10.6% in Egypt [35].…”