Status of dental caries and treatment needs in tribal children of Mandu (Central India).

Study was conducted in 1016 tribal children 6-13 years of age, living in remote villages of Mandu in district Dhar of Madhya Pradesh., to find out the status of dental caries and treatment needs. The tribal children exhibited a low prevalence of dental caries, both in primary and permanent dentitions, compared to rural as well as urban Indian children of the same age. The point prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth was 28-37% in 6-8 years age group and in the permanent teeth was 6-17% in 8-12 years children. The mean dmf ranged between 0.8-1.25 in six and eight year old children. The DMF hovered around 0.5-1.4 in 6-12 years old children. Nearly 30% children needed conservative care. Only a negligible percentage of children needed extraction/s of primary or permanent teeth. They showed less caries both in terms of dmf/DMF as well in its severity.