ANALYSIS OF EPIDEMIOLOGIC DATA ON ORAL-DISEASES IN NEPAL AND THE NEEDFOR A NATIONAL ORAL HEALTH SURVEY

This paper reviews and analyses the results of epidemiological studies on periodontal diseases and dental caries in Nepal and considers the need for additional data on oral diseases for the planning of a nation al oral health strategy. Almost all subjects aged 12 to 19 years (68-9 7 per cent) and 35 to 44 years (93-100 per cent) had calculus. The var ious studies showed that a median 29 per cent of subjects aged 35-44 y ears had deep periodontal pockets. According to this estimate it can t entatively be concluded that Nepal belongs to the 15 per cent of count ries in the world where periodontal conditions of the population are a mong the worst. An accurate DMFT-value for different age groups at pre sent cannot be estimated due to period and sampling effects. The obser ved cohort effect over time suggests that caries has increased in the 12-19 years age group in Nepal in the period 1980-1996. The estimated range of DMFT-values for 12 years old children is between 0.6-1.9 and for 35 to 44 years old persons between 2.5-4.0. With these DMFT-values Nepal belongs to the countries with a 'low to very low' caries experi ence according to the WHO decay rating. The present epidemiological da ta do not justify a claim for a national oral health survey as a start ing point for a national plan of oral health since more accurate data do not add additional value to that planning, particularly not in poor countries as Nepal where the oral health service is still in its infa ncy.