ORAL HEALTH SITUATION OF SCHOOLCHILDREN, MOTHERS AND SCHOOLTEACHERS IN SAUDI-ARABIA

Studies of children, mothers, and schoolteachers were carried out in t he Madina City, Saudi Arabia. The clinical examinations of dental cari es in 6 year-olds (n=240) showed a mean dmft score of 6.4 and 2.9 DMFT was found-among 12 year-olds (n=240). Questionnaires to the mothers d emonstrated poor oral hygiene habits of the children and the consumpti on of sugar was extraordinarily frequent. Annual visits to the dentist : was reported for 45 per cent of the children and 51 per cent of the mothers. The level of dental knowledge of the mothers (n=460) was diff use whereas the attitudes towards prevention were positive. Self-admin istered questionnaires to teachers (n=120) revealed positive attitudes towards school-based oral health promotion. There is an urgent need f or implementation of systematic oral health programmes for children in Saudi Arabia.