Assessment of Factors Influencing Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs Among Malayali Tribal Population at Javadhu Hills, India

The purpose of the study was to assess the oral health Status, factors influencing them and treatment needs of Malayali tribes at Javadhu hills in Polur Taluk, Tamilnadu. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to assess the oral health status of totally 710 subjects in four different age groups of 12yrs, 15yrs, 35-44yrs, 65-74yrs old were using the W.H.O oral health assessment methodology 1997. Before the start of the study, an ethical clearance from the institutional review board (IRB) obtained. RESULTS: The periodontal status of the subjects according to the mean sextants showed that the healthy sextants were maximum in the younger age groups and gradually decreased with age. The mean number of healthy sextant was found to be 3.36 in the 12 years age group. The mean DMFT was 0.65 in 12 years and increased up to 9.9 in 65-74 years age group. CONCLUSION: The findings study survey highlights the dominance of untreated caries and a high prevalence of calculus in 12 &15 year old Malayali tribe children.