Prevalence and Comparison of Dental Caries Experience Among Government and Private School Children in Abbottabad: A Community Dental Outreach-Based Study

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of dental caries and to compare the components of the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index among school children studying in government and private schools in Abbottabad. Differences according to gender and age groups were also explored using data obtained from community-based dental awareness programs conducted in 2025. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from June to August 2025 as part of school oral-health awareness activities organized by the Department of Community Dentistry, Women Dental College, Abbottabad. Dental examinations were performed using the WHO-recommended DMFT index. Schools were categorized into government and private institutions, and demographic information including age and gender was recorded. Non-probability convenience sampling technique was used, and the collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 24. Descriptive statistics were calculated, while chi-square and independent t-tests were used to examine differences in caries prevalence and mean DMFT components across groups. Results were considered statistically significant when p-value was less than 0.05. A total of 1,615 schoolchildren were included in the final analysis, with a mean age of 15.8±1.9 years. Among these 52.4% were female and 47.6% were male. The prevalence of dental caries (DMFT>0) was observed to be 47.3%. The mean scores for individual DMFT components were 1.19 for decayed teeth, 0.19 for missing teeth, and 0.03 for filled teeth. A higher prevalence of dental caries was observed in private schools (60.9%) as compared to those in government schools which was (36.9%). Female students exhibited greater prevalence as compared to male students. Furthermore, a gradual increase in mean DMFT scores was seen with increasing age among adolescents. Dental Caries remain the most common oral health concern among school children in Abbottabad. the finding suggests a comparatively higher burden among private schools’ students and female adolescents. Strengthening school based preventive strategies, including oral health education, routine dental visits and dietary counseling, may help to reduce the burden of dental caries in this population.