Clinical profile and distribution of the DMFT index among patients with deep dental caries in Kabul, Afghanistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58342/MJ.V.3.I.1.6Keywords:
Deep dental caries, DMFT index, Clinical profile, Oral health behavior, Dental treatment patterns, Kabul, AfghanistanAbstract
Background and Objective: Dental caries is a prevalent biofilm-mediated disease and a major public health concern in low-resource settings. Deep dental caries represents an advanced stage often leading to pulpal involvement and tooth loss. In Afghanistan, standardized clinical data on caries severity are limited. This study aimed to describe the distribution of the DMFT index among patients with deep dental caries in Kabul and to evaluate its association with demographic characteristics, oral health behaviors, and treatment patterns.
Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed archived clinical records from six public and private dental centers in Kabul. Among 1,516 reviewed records, 1,014 patients with at least one clinically diagnosed deep carious lesion met the inclusion criteria. Data on demographics, oral health behaviors, DMFT components, and treatment modalities were extracted. Due to non-normal distribution of DMFT scores, medians and interquartile ranges were reported, and nonparametric tests were applied. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: A high cumulative caries burden was observed, with missing teeth constituting the largest proportion of the DMFT index (60.7%). DMFT scores increased significantly with age and were higher among female patients and those with lower educational levels (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found across ethnic groups. Tooth brushing frequency was not significantly associated with DMFT, while sweet consumption showed a weak but significant positive correlation. Root canal treatment and dental fillings were the most frequently recorded treatments, reflecting advanced disease at presentation.
Conclusion: Patients with deep dental caries in Kabul exhibit a substantial burden of caries and tooth loss. Associations with age, gender, education, and sugar intake suggest delayed care-seeking and insufficient preventive measures. Improved preventive strategies, oral health education, and earlier access to dental care are essential to reduce disease burden in resource-limited settings.
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