Tangmarg: Students studying in schools here have a high prevalence of dental caries as the drinking water is supplied by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department to these educational institutions without fluoridation, a recent survey has revealed. 
 The survey ‘School Dental Health Screening Programme in Tangmarg’ was undertaken by the HOD Public Health Dentistry and Principal Dental College in collaboration with the Block Medical Administration. 
 The objective of the survey was to know  the  prevalence  of  dental caries among school  children of 5-15  age group and determine the  fluoride  levels  in  drinking  water and educate  children  about  dental  health.
 The survey carried by Dr. Faisal Arshad and Dr. Shamshada, interns of the Government Dental College Srinagar selected 19  schools  by  random sampling  covering  far  flung  areas of Tangmarg  like  Badrekoot, Alpathri, Ghaniwean, Pati-Heer, Namblinaar, Gogaladara.
 The interns collected the drinking water samples and got them tested at the Central
 Water Testing Lab Srinagar.
 On the basis of the report, the survey revealed that drinking water to the schools was supplied without fluoridation causing high prevalence of dental caries in Tangmarg.
 “The  caries  prevalence  was  found  to  be 4.5 on  a  caries scale (DMFT  scale)  which  is  much  higher  than recommended  by  World Health Organisation  i.e below three which  is  considered  normal  for any  region. The caries index  of  4.5  is  estimated  to  double five  times  in  10 years
 if  proper methods  for  its  prevention  are  not  done. Presently only  two dentists  are  posted  at the  Sub District  Hospital  Tangmarg serving  the  population  of Tangmarg  block,” the survey revealed.
 “There is need  for  water fluoridation in  the area to  decrease  prevalence  of  caries besides increasing  dentist-population  ratio and  regular  dental  awareness programmers  in  the  block.
 It states that the water fluoridation of Gogaldara School was found well in range as the water is supply to it from a spring in the area, it states.
 “During our survey many other things got revealed regarding the status of drinking water. We also got the microbiological analysis of water during the cholera outbreak in the area. We informed the authorities about the findings and action was taken immediately in this regard,” the interns state in the report. 
COMPILED BY AHMAD KASHMIRI

Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Nov 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
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