Search

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the frequency and determinants of dental caries in local inhabitants of a rural district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Lower Dir District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from September 2018 to February 2019. After taking ethical approval and informed consent from the participants, a total of 149 male adults were assessed regarding the frequency and determinants of dental caries through a self-developed survey tool validated by experts. The study participants were assessed for dental caries by a qualified dental surgeon and data was entered in Microsoft Excel, analyzed, and presented in form of tables. Results: Our results revealed that 59.73% of the study population was in the age range of 25-45 years, 16.78% had a monthly income of less than Rs. 15000 and 48.99% were illiterate. Moreover, 69.13% were aware of the causes of dental caries, 69.80% used toothbrushes, 25% brushed their teeth twice daily, and 54.36% used fluoride toothpaste. Furthermore, 70.47% had a preference for sweet foods and carbohydrates, and 54.36% had poor oro-dental hygiene. Conclusions: One-third of the studied population was suffering from dental caries. The different determinants identified in the survey were low socio-economic status, illiteracy, poor tooth brushing practices, and the use of fluoride toothpaste. Moreover, sweet food preference and oral hygiene status were frequently seen in patients with dental caries. Effective preventive, promotive, and curative services are needed to reduce dental caries and their complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]