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| Imagine a world where billions of people are grappling with oral diseases, their smiles hiding a silent struggle. |
| According to World Health Organisation, nearly 3.5 billion people globally are affected by oral diseases, with middle-income countries like India experiencing particularly high prevalence rates. For instance, India's National Oral Health Survey found a prevalence of 53.8%, while other studies in developing nations report rates as high as 36.7%. Untreated dental caries not only result in pain and difficulties with eating and sleeping but can also lead to emergency dental visits, hospitalizations, invasive treatments, and broader health issues, ultimately impacting overall quality of life.1,2 |
| Contributing factors to rising prevalence in India |
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| Regional Disparities: The prevalence of dental caries in India varies significantly across different regions, with some areas reporting high rates while others show lower incidence.2 |
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| Limited Age Group Studies: Despite numerous studies on dental caries prevalence in India, only a few have comprehensively covered all age groups, leaving gaps in understanding its impact across different demographics.2 |
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| Dentist Population Ratio: India's dentist-to-population ratio ranges widely from 1:1000 to 1:20,000 across states, highlighting unequal access to dental care, particularly in rural areas where only 10% of dentists practice.2 |
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| Rural Healthcare Challenges: The disproportionate distribution of dentists means that many rural residents may lack access to timely diagnosis and treatment of dental caries, potentially exacerbating the problem.2 |
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| Need for Accurate Prevalence Data: Given these disparities, there is a critical need for more precise and comprehensive prevalence data to better understand and address the growing concern of dental caries in India.2 |
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| Impact on Quality of Life: Untreated dental caries can lead to pain, difficulty in eating, and other health complications, affecting the overall quality of life for individuals affected, particularly in underserved regions.2 |
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| These points underscore the multifaceted nature of the issue and the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve oral health outcomes across the country. |
| Insight into prevalence rates of dental caries across different age groups, type of dental caries, geographical regions, and dentition |
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| Age specific:2 |
| Although most studies have focused on dental caries in populations under 18, an age-specific prevalence of 62% in patients above 18 years and 52% among 3–18 year olds (P < 0.0001) was observed. Janakiram et al. reported a mean prevalence of 49% in 5–12 year olds, with a steady increase of 60% to 84% in 15 years olds and 65–74 year group, respectively. Age-specific increase in dental caries can also be attributed to poor health seeking behaviors among adults, inadequate time for self-care, substance abuse, presence of comorbidities, and absence of organized programs that target prevention and reduction of dental caries in India. |
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| Geographical regions:2 |
| On assessing the geographical distribution of dental caries prevalence rates in India, the region wise prevalence was notably high in western India (72%). However, this is in dissonance with a meta-analysis by Janakiram et al. who found that the dental caries prevalence was markedly higher in North India among all age groups compared with the other parts of India. |
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| Dentition:2 |
| Prevalence of dental caries across different types of dentition, reported highest overall prevalence in the mixed dentition (58%) category, followed by the primary (54%) type. |
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Pain behind the Badge:
Dental Distress among Karnataka Police |
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| Impact of Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) stationed in Belagavi, India.1 |
| Mean scores of the seven domains of OHIP-14 among the study subjects. |
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| Total OHIP-14 scores observations |
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| Addressing dental caries and periodontal disease among Karnataka State Reserve Police requires a multifaceted approach that considers socioeconomic factors, promotes preventive care, and ensures equitable access to oral healthcare services across all ranks. By doing so, we can mitigate the impact of oral diseases and enhance the overall well-being of police personnel in Belagavi, India. |
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| Key reflections |
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| In conclusion, the rising prevalence of dental caries in India underscores a multifaceted challenge influenced by regional disparities, limited age group studies, unequal dentist population ratios, and rural healthcare challenges. These factors collectively highlight the urgent need for precise prevalence data and targeted interventions to improve oral health outcomes nationwide. Addressing these issues will not only mitigate the impact of dental caries on quality of life but also pave the way for effective preventive strategies and policy formulations. By prioritizing enhanced preventive care and awareness campaigns, healthcare professionals can play a pivotal role in reducing the burden of dental caries and promoting better oral health across all demographics in India. The widespread prevalence of dental caries is a critical health issue impacting over half of the Indian population. |
| Analyzing age-specific subgroups emphasizes the urgency of enhanced preventive oral care initiatives and awareness campaigns among adults to effectively manage dental caries. Addressing regional variations in prevalence rates is crucial for targeting interventions and shaping health policies more effectively. |
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| GGI-CO-A1-AQS-300023454-NB-G24-0384 |
| For the use of a Registered Medical Practitioner, Hospital or Laboratory only. |
| References: |
| 1. |
Santhosh VN, Ankola A, Sankeshwari R, Jalihal S, Varghese AS, Chavan P, Shah MA. Impact of dental caries and periodontal disease on oral health-related quality of life among the Karnataka State Reserve Police Personnel in Belagavi, India. J Prev Med Hyg. 2023 May 16;64(1):E78-E86. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2023.64.1.2900. PMID: 37293461; PMCID: PMC10246609. |
| 2. |
Pandey P, Nandkeoliar T, Tikku AP, Singh D, Singh MK. Prevalence of Dental Caries in the Indian Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent. 2021 Jun 10;11(3):256-265. doi: 10.4103/jispcd.JISPCD_42_21. PMID: 34268187; PMCID: PMC8257015. |
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