A Comparative Study of Oral Health Status and Behaviors among Suburban and Urban Male Adolescents in Zahedan, Iran

Background: Oral health is imperative for holistic well-being, transcending dental considerations. Analyzing hygiene practices in diverse areas facilitates strategic health planning. This study evaluated and compared oral health and behaviors among male students aged 13-15 years old attending both central and suburban high schools in Zahedan, Iran.Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted during the 2019-2020 school year on 260 male students aged 13-15 in Zahedan, Iran. The study had 130 students in the suburban (case) group and 130 in the central (control) group. Oral health status was measured using Decay, Missing, Filling, Teeth (DMFT) Index and the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). A questionnaire was used to assess behaviors. Statistical analyses included Independent Samples t-Test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-square test.Results: The prevalence of dental caries was similar between the groups (P=0.31), but the case group had a significantly higher prevalence of periodontal involvement (P=0.03). The mean DMFT index was higher in the case group (P=0.05), and the distribution of DMFT scores differed significantly between the two groups (P=0.02). There was a significant difference in the CPI index of the two study groups (P=0.0001). Oral health behaviors revealed that the case group had a higher frequency of not brushing teeth and using alternative cleaning methods compared with the control group.Conclusions: Our findings indicated that students from the suburban area of Zahedan had poorer oral health status and weaker oral health behaviors compared with the students from the central city. These results underscored the importance of considering regional disparities in oral health and hygiene practices when developing targeted health initiatives for the local population.