Prevalence and Risk Factors of Dental Caries among Patients Seeking Care at Tertiary Hospitals

Abstract

Objective: To study the prevalence and risk factors of dental caries among patients seeking care at tertiary hospitals

Study Design: A observational cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Tertiary Care Hospitals, Peshawar January to May 2023.

Methods: A sample of 2000 patients was enrolled who visited the dental OPD of tertiary care hospitals using a non-random convenient sampling technique.

Results: Dental caries was prevalent in 63.60% of the population. Dental caries classified in the study based on their causes, showed that among the male population the most prevalent cause was malnutrition (34.68%), and followed by increased sweet consumption (29.78%). These also occurred to be the prevalent causes among female population i.e., 56.08% due to malnutrition, followed by 27.65% of the female population having dental caries due to increased sweet consumption.

Conclusion: The study reveals the substantial burden of dental caries among patients seeking treatment at tertiary institutions. The high prevalence rates emphasize the urgent need for effective interventions.