The Hidden Epidemic: Estimating Dental Disease Prevalence in School Children Across Major Indian Cities

Introduction: Oral diseases in children can significantly impact their quality of life and overall development. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of dental diseases and conditions among school children in major Indian cities – Bangalore, Delhi, and Pune – while identifying regional variations and public health implications. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving school children from Bangalore, Delhi, and Pune. Prevalence data were obtained from the data source of a School Health Program, conducted by a private organization providing school health services. The prevalence rates of oral diseases were recorded, analyzed, and compared across the three cities. Results: Screening of 162,968 school children revealed that 31% had dental caries, 18% had gingivitis, and 2.4% had root stumps. Among soft tissue-related issues, 1.33% of students had partial tongue-tie, while both complete tongue-tie and angular stomatitis were found in 0.18% each. In addition, 2.41% of school children had malocclusion. Conclusion: This study reveals the prevalence of oral disease and conditions across 3 major urban areas of the country. There are significant disparities across cities and across various types of schools. Periodic similar studies are needed in other cities to understand the prevalence and distribution of oral health conditions. Schools, healthcare providers, and policy makers can collaborate to understand the oral health status of school children and create interventions focusing on prevention, education, and treatments, where necessary. Future research should monitor the impact of urbanization on children’s oral health and evaluate the effectiveness of targeted interventions.