Oral hygiene status and gingival health of children at age 4 -12 years in Baghdad

Abstract EN

The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and severity of gingivitis and oral hygiene condition in Kindergarten and primary school children aged 4-12 years in Baghdad.

A sample of (193) child (108) of them aged (4- 6) in Kindergarten, (85) child aged (6-12) years in primary schools examined and using plaque index score by Silness and Loe and gingival index by Loe and Silness, calculus accumulation measured by using simplified calculus index by green and vermillion.

The results show that the mean plaque score for the first group of age was (0.44) while the second group was (0.96), the mean gingival score was (0.21) for the first group and (0.42) for the second group while the mean calculus score was (0.05) and (0.23) for the 1st and 2nd group respectively.

No sex variation had been noticed concerning the three scores.

A highly significant was found between these two age groups concerning the three scores therefore oral health education for Kindergarten and school children is an essential activity for promoting and maintaining optimal oral health and preventing oral diseases.