Oral health status of 916 children in Tibetan settlement (Bylakuppe, India): A cross-sectional descriptive study

Background: Dietary and oral hygiene habits among integrated migrant cultural minorities can vary and could impact susceptibility to caries.

Aim: This study aimed to assess and compare the oral health status of Tibetan schoolchildren living in the Tibetan settlement of Bylakuppe, India, stratified by type of residence.

Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among Tibetan schoolchildren attending nine schools in the Bylakuppe region.

Results: The study population consisted of 916 children aged 5-17: 702 (76.6%) living in secular houses (LSH) and 214 (23.4%) living in monasteries (LM). The prevalence of dental caries was 70.9%, and the mean value of decayed, missing, filled teeth for mixed and primary dentition (DMFT*; dmft) of LSH children (1.56 ± 2.34/1.74 ± 2.66) was higher than of LM ones (1.14 ± 2.34/0.83 ± 2.80; p < .001). DMFT for LM children (1.46 ± 2.04) was slightly higher than for LSH children (1.38 ± 1.96; p > .05). Among the sample, 99.1% had a good simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) and LM children showed higher rates of good values (99.5% vs. 98.2% in LSH children). Most children needed preventive/routine dental treatment, whereas 16.6% needed urgent dental treatment. In 4.5% of children, oral mucosal lesions were present.

Conclusion: This study confirms the high need for dental treatment in the children of the Tibetan settlement investigated.