PREVALENCE OF DENTAL CARIES AND DENTAL FLUOROSIS AMONG THE TRIBAL POPULATION OF GIR FOREST, GUJARAT: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Dental caries and dental fluorosis are among the most prevalent yet neglected oral health conditions in Indian tribal communities, where geographic isolation, limited dental care access, and endemic groundwater fluoride create a distinct disease profile. Data for the tribal communities of Gujarat's Gir Forest region remain scarce. Aim: To determine the prevalence and severity of dental caries and dental fluorosis among the tribal population of the Gir Forest region, Gujarat. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 390 tribal participants (Maldhari, Siddi, and Bharwad communities), with 130 each from three WHO index age groups (15 years, 35 44 years, and 65–74 years). Dental caries was recorded as the DMFT index and dental fluorosis was assessed using Dean's fluorosis index as specified in the WHO Oral Health Assessment Form for Adults (2013). Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 20.0 and are presented as frequencies, percentages, and means with standard deviations. Results: Overall caries prevalence was 97.7% (381/390). Mean DMFT rose with age, from 3.30 ± 1.87 at 15 years to 13.08 ± 4.41 at 65–74 years, driven predominantly by untreated decay (DT); the filled component (FT) was negligible across all age groups. Decayed teeth were higher in males (5.12 ± 3.17) than in females (3.92 ± 2.86). Dental fluorosis was present in 258 participants (66.2%), predominantly in the questionable (25.1%) and very mild (20.0%) categories; no participant exhibited severe fluorosis. Conclusion: The Gir Forest tribal communities carry a very high burden of untreated dental caries alongside a considerable prevalence of dental fluorosis. These findings underscore the need for targeted mobile dental services, school-based preventive programmes, and water quality monitoring in this geographically isolated population.