Prevalence of Dental Caries and Its Association With Oral Hygiene Practices Among Primary School Children Aged 6-11 Years in North India: A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases affecting children worldwide and remains a major public health concern. It is a multifactorial condition influenced by oral hygiene practices, dietary habits, and behavioral factors. The mixed dentition period (6-11 years) is particularly critical as children are more susceptible to developing caries due to changing oral environments and inconsistent oral hygiene practices. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries and its association with oral hygiene practices among primary school children aged 6-11 years in the district of Panchkula, Haryana, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1040 school-going children selected using multistage random sampling. Dental caries in the permanent dentition was recorded using the decayed-missing-filled teeth (DMFT) index, whereas caries in the primary dentition was assessed using the decayed-extracted-filled teeth (deft) index. Oral hygiene practice was evaluated using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, including chi-square analysis, with the significance level set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of dental caries was 84.4%. No significant association was found between sex and the prevalence of caries (p > 0.05). However, the prevalence of caries increased significantly with age (p < 0.001). Oral hygiene practices showed a statistically significant association with dental caries (p < 0.0001), with a higher prevalence among children with poor brushing habits, infrequent brushing, improper cleaning methods, high consumption of sweets, and irregular dental visits. Mean DMFT and deft scores increased significantly with age (p = 0.001). Additionally, children with poor oral hygiene scores demonstrated significantly higher DMFT and deft values than those with good and fair hygiene (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study revealed a high prevalence of dental caries among children in the mixed dentition stage, with oral hygiene practices playing a significant role. Early preventive interventions, improved oral health education, and parental involvement are essential for reducing the burden of dental caries in children.