Periodontal treatment needs in 12 and 15 to 19 year old school children in the Caribbean island of Antigua, 1990

ABSTRACT

A national survey was undertaken in 1990 to investigate the periodontal treatment needs in 12 and 15 to 19 year olds residing in urban and rural areas of Antigua. Using the CPITN procedure, examination of 246 12 year old children and 456 adolescents (15 to 19) revealed that the CPITN scores of healthy, gingival bleeding, calculus, 4 or 5 mm and >6mm periodontal pockets were distributed similarly in urban and rural areas. Calculus was the most commonly recorded score, with a prevalence of 46 percent in 12 year olds and 56 percent in 15 -19 year olds. 4 or 5 mm pockets were found in 14 percent of adolescents, affecting on average less than one sextant per subject, but deep pockets were uncommon, 26 percent of 12 year olds and 14 percent of adolescents had priodontally healthy mouths. Scaling and hygiene instructions were the predominant treatment needs in both age groups, but the requirement for complex periodontal care in adolescents was low - 3 percent. (AU)