The prevalence of dental caries amongst adult patients visiting the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) Dental Unit and University of Ghana dental school (UGDS) clinic

Abstract

Background : Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide, and remains a significant public health burden,
driven by socio behavioral, dietary, and health system factors, resulting in high levels of untreated disease and tooth loss.
Objective : To determine the prevalence rate and analyse examined associations of dental caries among participating adult patients.
Methods : A cross sectional study involving 134 adults (18–70 years) was conducted using questionnaires and oral examinations. Data
collected included sociodemographic characteristics, dental visiting patterns, oral hygiene practices, diet, and DMFT scores. Descriptive
statistics and chi square tests were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 with significance set at
p < 0.05.
Results: Caries prevalence was 55.97%. The mean DMFT score was 1.71 ± 1.95, driven mainly by untreated decay (D = 0.97 ± 1.37),
followed by missing teeth (M = 0.44 ± 0.87) and few restorations (F = 0.31 ± 0.79). Despite 58.96% of participants holding tertiary
education, 52.24% sought dental care only when in pain, and just 9.7% attended routine 6 monthly reviews. Sugar consumption was
frequent, and only 28.36% flossed regularly. Routine dental check ups were significantly associated with lower DMFT scores (p < 0.001).
Conclusion : A high burden of untreated dental caries persists despite relatively high educational attainment, reflecting limited
preventive care uptake and low restorative treatment. Strengthening community level oral health education and promoting regular dental attendance are essential