Dental caries in Namibia – the first national survey

This paper reports findings on dental caries in the first national survey in Namibia, the second largest country on the Southern African subcontinent. In 1991. a total of 208l individuals, representing 0.15% of the Namibian population, 764 12‐yr‐olds, 736 15‐yr‐olds and 581 35–44‐yr‐olds were examined to determine their oral health. Caries was diagnosed using WHO criteria by a single calibrated dentist. At 12 yr between 37% and 81% of the subjects examined were caries‐free, at 15 yr between 25% and 66%, and in the age class 35–44 yr 6–44% were caries‐free. Mean DMFT at 12 yr was 0.40–1.74 and at 15 yr 0.92–3.05; mean DFT at 35–44 yr was 1.36–3.93. Females had significantly more caries than males and there were significant differences between urban, peri‐urban and rural areas. The caries prevalence and experience is nevertheless low and within the WHO target for the year 2000 at 12 yr of age.