Tooth brushing, diet, preventive procedures and periodical dentist control constitute the basis of oral and dental health. Early childhood is the most appropriate period to gain these habits. The aim of this study was to assess the oral and dental health status of 4186 patients in the age group of 6 to 11, who were admitted to the Center of Dental Sciences of Gülhane Military Medical Academy in 2002. A total of 4186 patients, 2019 male and 2167 female, were assessed for periodontal status and occlusive disorders according to Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN), and for dental caries according to the index of DMF-T and dmf-t (D-d: decay, M-m: missing, F-f: filling, T-t: total, DMF-T: permanent dentition, dmf-t: primary dentition). The prevalence of caries in the whole population was 71.2%, whereas 9.2% of the cases demonstrated codes 1 and 2 of Commu-nity Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs, which are the codes indicative of gingival inflammation. Results of the present study confirm the hypothesis that dental treatment needs towards the correction of dental and oral health problems should begin at an age as early as six.
Keywords: Prevelance of caries, dental caries, epidemiology, oral and dental health
