Um-e-rubab Shirazi, Muhammad Yousuf, Asma Rafi Chaudhry, Saira Atif.
Effect of Age and Gender on DMFT Index of Undergraduate Dental Students in Lahore Medical and Dental College.
Ann King Edward Med Uni Jan ;19(2):155-9.

Introduction: Dental caries is an infectious micro-biological disease resulting in localized destruction of the calcified tissue.1 Decyed, missing and filled teeth index (DMFT) have been used to measure caries sta-tus. Objective: The purpose of this study was to deter-mine the effect of age and gender on dental caries status. Study Design: Cross sectional survey. Place of Study: Indoor Department of Operative den-tistry in Lahore Medical and Dental College. Patients and Methods: In a total of 310 dental stu-dents with age ranging from 17 - 24 years were inclu- ded in the study. The duration of study was 6 months (March 2008 - August 2008). The students consent was taken before the commencement of the study. Students undergoing orthodontic treatment, ameloge-nesis imperfecta, and dentinogenesis imperfecta were excluded from the study. Decayed - missing - filled teeth index (DMFT) was used to measure caries status and the values were interpreted according to DMFT scoring scale. Results: The mean DMFT score among 17 - 19 was (mean ± SD 1.42 ± 0.52), and in 20 - 24 it was (1.35 ± 0.54). After stratification of gender, mean DMFT for male student was 1.35 ± 0.51 with decay (D) compo-nent of 0.65 ± 0.61 and filled component of 0.69 ± 0.68. The Mean DMFT for female was 1.40 ± 0.55 with decay (D) component of 0.48 ± 0.61 and filled component of 0.91 ± 0.68. Conclusion: The mean DMFT score difference was not significant between the two age groups (1.42 ± 0.52 vs. 1.35 ± 0.54; p = 0.365). There was significant difference in mean DMFT score in male dental stu-dents as they pass through different academic levels. There was no significant difference in mean DMFT score (p = 0.51) among female students.

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