A cross sectional study of nutritional status among a group of school children in relation with gingivitis and dental caries severity

Harun Achmad (Departement of Pediatric, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University Makassar, Indonesia)
Andi M. Adam (Department of Periodontic, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University Makassar, Indonesia)
Anni Satria (Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University Makassar, Indonesia)

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science
Vol. 1 No. 3 (2016): (Available online: 1 December 2016)

To determine nutritional status among a school children of Barru Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, in relation with gingivitis and dental caries severity. Cross-sectional study. A total of 127 school children in the age range of 9-12 years from Barru Regency were included in this study as a sample of simple random sampling. Nutritional status of children (BMI index), degree of gingival inflammation (using chi-square test statistic), and missing teeth (DMF-T index) were recorded. Additional information was collected using a questionnaire survey regarding knowledge about dental health, dietary habits, and oral health behaviors. The data were processed using the program Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). A group of who severe underweight (102 children), had higher odds for mild gingivitis (GI 79.4%) than others group of who has an ideal weight (16 children), had mild gingivitis (GI 62.5%). Children, who severe underweight, had higher odds for moderate caries (38.2%) than others group of who has an ideal weight, had moderate caries (18.8%). Based on chi-square test, there are correlation of nutritional status and dental caries severity (p=0.000<p=0.05). There is a relationship of nutritional status with gingivitis and dental caries severity among a school children.