Prevalence and risk factors of dental caries among secondary school students in Zakho, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Abstract EN

Background and objective: Dental caries is an important public health problem.

It is widely distributed globally affecting two thirds of children and young adults.

Several risk factors have been incriminated in the etiology.

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of dental caries among secondary school students.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted by selecting a random sample of 400 secondary school students from Zakho city, to estimate the risk factors and the prevalence by dental caries index (Decayed, Missed, Filled, Surfaces) DMFS.

Results: The study showed that the prevalence of dental caries was 92.5% with a mean caries index of 7.47 which was significantly higher in females (8.31) than males (6.65).

Significant association was observed between sugar intake and high caries rates for both genders.

No significant associations were detected with other suspected risk factors.

Conclusion: Secondary school students in Zakho city experienced a high prevalence of dental caries.

The mean caries index was significantly higher in females in comparison to males; and significantly associated with sugar consumption