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Dental Caries Status and Associated Factors Among Adults in Southeastern Iran: Findings From the Zahedan Adult Cohort Study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Dental caries remains a major public health concern globally. This study aimed to assess the dental caries status and its associated factors among adults in Southeastern Iran. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 10,016 adults aged 35-70 years who participated in the Zahedan Adult Cohort Study (ZACS). The status of dental caries was assessed using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, oral hygiene practices, presence of oral lesions, current cigarette smoking and drug use, and history of chronic condition were collected through valid questionnaires from the ZACS. One-factor and multifactor general linear models were used to identify significant factors associated with DMFT. RESULTS: In this study, 99.4% of participants had a DMFT score of 1 or higher, indicating a high lifetime experience of dental caries. The mean DMFT score was 17.3. Additionally, 47.91% of participants had filled teeth (1), and 78.7% had decayed teeth (DT), with the 35-40 age group showing the lowest mean DT score of 3.65. Conversely, individuals over 60 had the highest DMFT score of 22.88. In the multifactor model, DMFT significantly increased with age and decreased with higher education levels. DMFT also decreased from underweight to obese individuals. Furthermore, DMFT significantly decreased with increased daily tooth brushing, while cigarette smokers and drug users exhibited significantly higher DMFT scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed significant variations in DMFT scores based on age, education, and oral hygiene practices among adults in Southeastern Iran, highlighting the importance of consistent dental brushing. The findings suggest the need for targeted public health interventions, particularly for smokers, drug users, and less educated populations, to address oral health challenges and reduce dental caries prevalence.

Source: Clinical and Experimental Dental Research

DOI: 10.1002/cre2.70236

Authors: Somaye Ansari Moghadam, Razie Keikha Arya, Hassan Okati‐Aliabad, Mahdi Mohammadi, Alireza Ansari‐Moghaddam

Institution: Zahedan University of Medical Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Dental Health and Care Utilization

Subfield: Periodontics

Field: Dentistry

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,440