Keywords
dentoalveolar abscess
malocclusion
precocious teeth
pericoronitis
traumatic injuries.
Abstract
Introduction: Presentation of dental disease varies depending on different cultural practices, conditioning, awareness, and a person’s
attitude towards seeking oral health care services. Lack of oral hygiene practices, feeding at will, and excessive consumption of sweets lead
to early tooth decay.
Objective: To assess pattern of distribution of various oral health conditions among children.
Methods: This hospital-based, analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out among 431 children from one week to 14 years old in the
department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Universal College of Medical Sciences, Siddharthanagar from 2025 January to June
after obtaining institutional ethical clearance. Informed consent and assent were obtained from parents and children before enrolment
in this study. Participants were selected using convenience sampling method and divided into two groups: group I included 211 children
aged one week to six years and group II ranged from seven years to 14 years of age comprising of 220 children. Distribution of disease
depending upon presenting complaints was recorded over a period of six months. The data collected were tabulated and subjected to
statistical analyses using SPSS v.20 Descriptive statistics were obtained and frequency distribution were calculated. Chi-square test was
used for the analysis.
Results: Out of total study population,166 (38.5%) children showed presence of dental caries, 105 (24.4%) had dentoalveolar abscess.
Children presented with retained deciduous were 49 (11.4%), whereas 36 (8.4%) complained mobility, 24 (5.6%) cases were of trauma, and 14
(3.2%) malocclusions followed by 13 (3%) gingivitis, 12 (2.8%) developmental anomalies, seven (1.6 %) pericoronitis, four (0.9 %) precocious
teeth, and one (0.2%) tongue tie as their chief complaint
Conclusions: The present study highlights that dental caries and dentoalveolar abscess were most frequently reported oral health problems
among children, particularly in younger age group. Male children showed higher prevalence of traumatic dental injuries.
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