Dental Caries Pattern Amongst Tanzanian Children: National Oral Health Survey

Dental caries in young children and adolescents is a public oral health challenge in countries with developing economies and economic transition. This study presents a demographic pattern of dental caries in primary and permanent dentition of 5-, 12-, and 15-year-old Tanzanians based on the 2020 National Oral Health Survey findings.

This is a cross-section study based on data from Tanzania's 5th National Oral Health Survey. Data on dental caries and basic demographics were collected employing World Health Organization Oral Health Survey protocols. Analysis was done using the SPSS computer programme version 23, and proportions and mean dental caries experiences in Decayed extracted filled teeth in primary dentition/Decayed Missing Filled Teeth in permanent dentition were summarised and chi-square statistics and binary logistic regression assessed the differences and determined the association between dental caries and the selected demographic characteristics.

The survey included 2187 participants; 42.4% were from rural areas and 50.7% were female. Overall caries prevalence was 17%, specifically 43.2%, 20.5%, and 25.5% amongst 5-, 12- and 15-year-olds, respectively. Decayed teeth components were 98.4%, 89.8%, and 91.4% amongst 5-, 12-, and 15-year-olds, respectively. Overall mean (SD) DMFT amongst 12- and 15-year-olds were 0.40 (0.27) and 0.59 (1.35), respectively. Urban participants had significantly lower odds of dental caries experience (odds ratio, 0.62, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.84) compared with rural participants, whilst the 15-year-olds had higher odds of dental caries experience than the 12-year-olds.

Dental caries prevalence in primary dentition was high. The proportion of decayed teeth components of def/DMFT was the highest compared with that of missing and filled teeth components. Older adolescents and those from rural areas had higher odds of dental caries experience.