Dental caries among 6-to 12-year-old Hui and Han students in Ningxia southern mountainous area

Objective To investigate dental caries among 6-to 12-year-old Hui and Han students in Ningxia southern mountainous area.Methods Dental caries was assessed among 2 907 students aged from 6 to 12 years from 12 primary schools of Ningxia southern mountainous area by using the stratified,cluster sampling.Results The prevalence rate of caries was 60.7%,and the DMFT/dmft was(1.76±2.08).The filled rate of the total caries was 2.7%;prevalence rate of the first molars caries was 26.8% and the DMFT was(0.45±0.86).The filled rate of the caries was 2.4% in the first molars,and the rate of pit and fissure was 6.7%;the prevalence rate of deciduous tooth caries was 47% and the dmft was(1.31±1.87),and the filled rate of the caries was 1.3% in deciduous tooth.There were significant difference on caries status between nationality and age and region(P<0.01),but no significant difference between gender(P>0.05).The rate of pit and fissure in the first permanent molar was 10.2% among students in the urban school,while no students with was found having dental sealant in the rural school.Conclusion Dental caries among 6-to 12-year-old Hui and Han students in Ningxia southern mountainous area was high.Rate of fissure sealants on permanent first molars is still low,especially in rural area.