The Tari oral health study was conducted in 1985 and aimed to provide an oral health profile of a rural highlands community. The sample was selected from the database of the Tari Research Unit, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea and consisted of 815 Huli people aged from 3 to 64 years, in seven age groups, who were examined for oral health status and had completed an interview-questionnaire. A wide range of oral health status was seen, ranging from excellent to very poor. Dental caries and periodontal disease were common in the population. Oral habits such as smoking and betelnut chewing were associated with an increase in leukoplakia, which may lead to oral cancer in some people. Dental caries varied in prevalence and severity. Higher decayed, missing and filled teeth scores in the primary teeth of young children were associated with defective tooth formation (hypoplasia) linked to maternal and childhood illnesses and nutritional deficiencies. Older adults had the worst oral health, with the 45-64 year old group having a caries prevalence of 95% and a decayed, missing and filled teeth score of 14.7. Root surface caries, seen as a consequence of poor oral hygiene and gum recession, was the major site of caries attack in the older Hull. The public oral health services are unable to reach a large proportion of the rural population, and people continue to use traditional herbal and folk remedies. Many seek the skills of local tooth extractors who use six-inch nails with no anaesthetic.
Oral health ; Tooth ; Financially poor ; Caries, NOS ; Prevalence aspects