Oral health situation of schoolchildren, mothers and schoolteachers in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Studies of children, mothers, and schoolteachers were carried out in the Madina City, Saudi Arabia. The clinical examinations of dental caries in 6 year-olds (n = 240) showed a mean dmft score of 6.4 and 2.9 DMFT was found among 12 year-olds (n = 240). Questionnaires to the mothers demonstrated poor oral hygiene habits of the children and the consumption of sugar was extraordinarily frequent. Annual visits to the dentist was reported for 45 per cent of the children and 51 per cent of the mothers. The level of dental knowledge of the mothers (n = 460) was diffuse whereas the attitudes towards prevention were positive. Self-administered questionnaires to teachers (n = 120) revealed positive attitudes towards school-based oral health promotion. There is an urgent need for implementation of systematic oral health programmes for children in Saudi Arabia.