Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the dental caries experience of children in Laos. Methods: Oral examinations were performed on a total of 1,540 students in 513 primary school students, 537 middle school students, and 490 high school students and the results analyzed. Results: The dft index (decayed-filled primary teeth index) of 6-year-old primary school children was 6.04. The DMFT index (decayed-filled-missing permanent teeth index) was 1.59 in 12-yearold middle school children and 2.04 in 15-year-old middle school children. Conclusions Caries experience in most of the age groups was on the high side. It is considered that in Laos, a treatment project to stop the progression of caries is necessary in parallel with a prevention project to lower the caries fatality rate.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the dental caries experience of children in Laos. Methods: Oral examinations were performed on a total of 1,540 students in 513 primary school students, 537 middle school students, and 490 high school students and the results analyzed. Results: The dft index (decayed-filled primary teeth index) of 6-year-old primary school children was 6.04. The DMFT index (decayed-filled-missing permanent teeth index) was 1.59 in 12-yearold middle school children and 2.04 in 15-year-old middle school children. Conclusions Caries experience in most of the age groups was on the high side. It is considered that in Laos, a treatment project to stop the progression of caries is necessary in parallel with a prevention project to lower the caries fatality rate.