Abstract
Introduction: The national oral health survey-Qatar (2011) was carried out to collect the
baseline oral health information among youth. This article describes the oral health status of 12
and 15-year-old students in Qatar.
Methods: Cross-sectional survey data were analyzed for 12 (N=1060) and 15 (N=1064) yearold students. Caries status was determined based on decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT)=0 (no
caries) & DMFT ≥1 (caries present). Mean indices among nationalities and sex were compared
by Student’s t test. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare means by the type of the
school. Logistic regression was used to examine associations among variables.
Results: About 53% (n=565) of 12-year-old and 55% (n=589) of 15-year-old had varying
degrees of caries. The odds of caries were higher among girls vs. boys aged 12 years (OR [odds
ratio] =1.3, P=0.05) and 15-years-old (OR=1.28, P=0.04). Qatari students had a higher mean
DMFT value (1.3 ± 1.2) compared to non-Qataris (0.82 ± 1.1). The public/independent school
students had higher mean DMFT (1.31 ± 1.2) vs. other two school categories. Fifteen-year-old
students had lower odds (OR=0.81, P=0.02) of gingival bleeding and higher odds (OR=1.68,
P<0.001) of calculus vs. 12-year-old. Dental fluorosis was found among 15% of 12-year-old and
16.6% of 15- year-old . The odds of fluorosis were higher (not statistically significant) among
15-years-old (OR=1.1, P=0.36). Lower odds of bleeding teeth (OR=0.81, P=0.02) and higher
odds of calculus were found among 15-year-old (OR=1.68, P<0.001) compared to 12-year-old.
Conclusion: The results provide directions to further strengthen the oral health strategies through
various evidence-based interventions.