Dental caries among urban schoolchildren in Madagascar

An epidemiological survey of prevalence and severity of dental caries was carried out in an urban population of children in Madagascar. The study population comprised 1257 children in the age groups 4-5 yr to 14-15 yr equally distributed by sex. The children were examined according to the recording system for the Danish Child Dental Services. The caries experience in the primary dentition as well as in the permanent dentition was high. For example, among 6-yr-olds a mean number of 11.8 defs and 5.2 deft was observed and 82% of the children were affected by caries in primary teeth. In particular, primary molars in the mandibular and incisors in the maxilla were affected and approximal caries was frequent. Among 12-yr-olds mean DMFS was 4.0 and DMFT 2.4 and 75% of the children had caries in permanent teeth. In permanent teeth caries was located predominantly to mandibular molars and occlusal surfaces. In both dentitions almost all decay was untreated, indicating lack of dental treatment available due to the shortage of dental manpower. The establishment of a child dental service system is a matter of urgency. Dental health education and primary health care should be organized.