Comparison of tooth caries status between medical and non-medical students in Hamadan, Iran

Introduction: Despite advances in different fields of the dental science, dental caries is still one of the most common infectious diseases worldwide, which is an insurmountable problem in the health care system of many countries. DMFT index is one of the best methods to assess oral hygiene status and is influenced by educational and socio-economic factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate DMFT index among dental, medical, engineering and Islamic science students in Hamadan, Iran.  Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional/descriptive study, 200 students were selected from four different fields (n = 50 in each field) using simple random sampling technique. Clinical examinations were carried out by a senior dental student under dental unit headlight using dental mirrors and explorers. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and a post hoc Tukey test by using SPSS 15 (α = 0.05). Results: The mean DMFT was 7.89 ± 3.48. DMFT index differences were minimal between the four groups and the dental students had the highest index (8.8 ± 4.30), followed by Islamic science students (8.48±3.32), engineering students (7.94 ± 3.43) and medical students (6.72 ± 4). When each index was compared within each group, there were statistically significant differences for each individual index. Conclusion: Under the limitations of this study, although DMFT score was higher in dental students, caries was lower among dental and medical students. New educational programs seem to be necessary for oral health improvement in the student community.   Key words: Decay, Dental, Medical, Students