The prevalence of caries in groups of children aged 4-5 and 7-8 years in Khartoum, Sudan.

A total of 544 children, 275 pre-school children (aged 4-5 years) and 269 school children (aged 7-8 years), were examined for dental caries using WHO criteria with some modifications. The children were resident in Khartoum, Sudan. The mean dmft was 1.68 in the 4-5-year group, and 58% of them were caries-free. In the 7-8-year group the mean dmft (molars and canines) was 2.77, and 33% of the children were caries-free. Most of the caries in both groups was untreated. In decayed teeth which were not beyond repair, occlusal caries was most prevalent in the pre-school group and approximal caries most prevalent in the school group. The mean DMFT in the 7-8-year group was 0.15, and only occlusal surfaces in first molars were affected. Ninety-four percent in the 7-year group and 88% in the 8-year group were caries-free in the permanent dentition. When the children were grouped according to their socio-economic level, there were no statistically significant differences in caries prevalence between the groups. Since this is the first comprehensive caries prevalence study of these age groups in Sudan, it is impossible to conclude whether caries is increasing or not. The prevalence of caries-free preschool children is above the global goal of FDI/WHO for the year 2000, but below the goal for developing countries.