Evaluation of Oral Status and Tobacco Use in a Rural Population and Testing a Scale Developed to Rate Oral Status: A Pilot Study

The objectives of this investigation were to evaluate the oral status and tobacco use of subjects residing in rural areas to provide epidemiological data for planning oral health programs and to test a scale developed to rate oral status. A cross-sectional investigation was conducted among first-visit subjects visiting the out-patient dental clinics of two rural hospitals during a sixmonth period. Data were collected by interviews and clinical examinations. Criteria evaluated in the proposed scale were based on the status of the oral tissues in disease and health. Differences in proportions were compared using the Chi squared test and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study population comprised 614 patients (43.6% male, 56.4% female) aged between four and 80. Only 1.6% subjects had an intact dentition while 17.9% presented with a healthy periodontium. Two hundred forty-five subjects had undergone prosthetic rehabilitation. Tobacco use was reported by 13.3% subjects and they accounted for 88% of the oro-mucosal lesions observed. Once daily tooth cleansing was reported by 68.2% subjects while 2.3% did not practice any oral hygiene measures. The scale used mirrored the subjects’ oral status accurately. To conclude, the poor oral status of this population was compounded by lack of awareness about the presence of oral disease. A renewed stress on implementation of oral health promotion strategies for rural populations seems critical in the present context and the proposed scale needs to be validated by studies on larger population groups.