Trends in oral hygiene, gingival status and dental caries experience in 13-14-year-old Jordanian school children between 1993 and 1999.

AIMS: The aim of this survey was to describe the trends in oral hygiene, gingival condition and dental caries prevalence in 13-14-year-old northern Jordanian school children. METHOD: A dental survey was conducted in 1999, similar to one carried out in 1993, utilising 10 schools (666 pupils) and 20 schools (1,695) with children of 7th grade, respectively. These schools were chosen by a simple random method from the five geographic areas of the city. All participants had dental examinations for oral hygiene, gingival condition and dental caries experience using the Silness and Löe plaque index (Pl.I), Löe and Silness gingival index (GI) and decayed (D), missing (M) and filled (F) teeth (DMFT) and surfaces (DMFS) codes, respectively. RESULTS: Boys had higher plaque and gingival scores than girls in both groups. The mean Pl.I and GI scores of males and females were significantly higher in the 1993 survey than in 1999 (P < 0.05). Also, male and female children examined in 1993 had significantly higher caries experience, as measured by DT, DS, DMFT and DMFS scores than in 1999 (P < 0.01). No differences were found between M and F values of both groups. It is concluded that oral hygiene, gingival condition and dental caries has improved since 1993.