March 2006

Objective This study was designed to measure the dental caries experience of Kuwaiti schoolchildren. Methods A national epidemiologic survey of the 5-14 year old children (n = 4,588) was conducted in the 5 governorates of Kuwait in 2001. Eight trained and calibrated dentists examined the children. Dental caries was scored using WHO criteria. Results In the primary dentition, the percentage of 5- and 6-year-old children with dft = 0 was 12.6% and 14.4% respectively. The corresponding mean dft/dfs for 5- and 6-year-olds were 4.6/9.7 and 4.6/9.9. For the permanent dentition, the percentage of 12- and 14-year-old children with DMFT = 0 was 26.4% and 21.7% respectively. The corresponding mean DMFT/DFS figures for 12- and 14-year-olds were 2.6/3.4 and 3.9/4.2. The d/D component was the major contributor to these mean scores. Poor oral hygiene (OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.7 - 2.4) and increasing age (OR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.3 - 1.5) were significantly associated with caries risk in the permanent dentition. Conclusions Caries levels are similar to those in neighbouring and other Middle East countries. There is a clear need for expanding the national school oral health programme to reach those children who are not yet receiving systematic preventive and curative services. Further studies are required to monitor the effect of the extensive caries preventive programme now in place in Kuwait. Key words: dental caries, Kuwait, schoolchildren