INCIDENCE OF LOSS OF ANTERIOR TEETH DUE TO CARIES IN SOUTH INDIAN POPULATION IN 2009.

Aim: To evaluate the incidence of loss of anterior teeth due to caries in 2000 patients randomly selected from the South Indian population in 2009. Material and Methods: 2000 patients were examined for incidence of loss of anterior teeth due to caries and the recorded data was statistically analysed using Pearson Chi-Square test. Results: Incidence of loss of anterior teeth due to caries in the population of South Canara district was found to be 16.3%. It was observed incidence of loss of anterior teeth that there was increased in age group above 65 years. No difference in incidence of anterior tooth loss was observed between urban and rural patients and also between males and females. There was high rate of replacement for the missing lost anterior teeth. Conclusion: This study showed that less than one fourth population of South Canara district had missing anterior tooth due to caries. Since anterior teeth occupies a strategic position in the dental arch, it is necessary to know the caries prevalence in this tooth and take adequate measures to prevent its progression and/or development of new carious lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]