DENTAL CARIES ELIMINATION FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN OF KONKAN REGION OF WESTERN MAHARASHTRA

Introduction

School going children constitute an important fraction of the total population. School children have tremendous latent potential as future human resource of the country. The health issues associated with school children are unique and need special interventions. Malnutrition among school children is widespread in Konkan region of Western Maharashtra and it needs to be dealt with on priority. It is observed that oral hygiene of these children is very poor. Dental caries has severely affected functional capacity of their teeth. This could be one of the contributory factors toward persistent malnutrition.

In the view of above, B.K.L Walawalkar Hospital has launched a School Dental Check-up and Treatment Project- ‘PROJECT DENTAL CARIES ELIMINATION’ for underprivileged children of remote Konkan region of Western Maharashtra with special emphasis on oral health education. These school children are periodically screened by government health machinery such as- Medical Officers of Primary Health Centre, however, our project is unique in the following ways:-

1. The approach is both, preventive and curative. The children are not just screened for dental caries but are also treated to eliminate dental caries and to restore functional capacity of their teeth.
2. The activity is on a periodic basis strictly as per well designed schedule that includes oral health education at various levels, screening, step by step treatment and sequential follow-up. This has indeed ensured drastic improvement in the children’s teeth and oral health status.
3. Special emphasis is given on oral health education. Massive oral health education drive is generated by conducting ‘Oral Health Education Programs’ for Ante Natal and Post Natal mothers, Anganwadi Sevikas and Madatnis, School teachers, Students, Parents, Village Sarpanchs etc.

 

Dental Project

 

Click here for details regarding Project Implementation Plan..

Read more about the Methodology..

 

Activities during Pilot Study (From 19th July 2011 to 20th September 2011) -

SCHOOLS VISITED FOR DENTAL CHECK UP 15
TOTAL STUDENTS SCREENED 775
TOTAL STUDENTS GIVEN 1ST STAGE OF TREATMENT 331
TOTAL ‘CARIES FREE’ STUDENTS AFTER 1ST STAGE 109
TOTAL OF GIC RESTORATIONS DONE 925
TOTAL OF EXTRACTIONS DONE 120
TOTAL OF SCALING DONE 22
‘ORAL HEALTH’ LECTURES GIVEN FOR ANGANWADI STAFF 20
‘ORAL HEALTH’ LECTURES GIVEN FOR SARPANCH 5

 

RESULTS :

After Screening :

PREVALENCE OF DENTAL CARIES 94%
AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF CARIOUS TEETH 23.76%
AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF FUNCTIONAL TEETH 57.56%

 

After 1st stage of treatment :

‘CARIES ELIMINATED’ IN TOTAL NO OF STUDENTS 109 (32.93%)
REDUCTION IN PERCENTAGE OF CARIOUS TEETH 49.41%
INCREASE IN PERCENTAGE OF FUNCTIONAL TEETH 39.71%

 

Second Stage of treatment is in progress.