Dental caries status and treatment needs of children of fisher folk communities, residing in the coastal areas of Karnataka region, south India.

OBJECTIVE To assess the dental caries status and treatment needs of children belonging to the fisher folk communities. METHOD Two hundred and sixty-seven children up to the age of 14 years were examined using the World Health Organization (WHO) oral health assessment criteria, 1997. RESULTS The prevalence of dental caries was found to be high in the study population. The unmet treatment need was also high. CONCLUSION Further research is suggested in order to explore and identify the prevailing aetiological factors responsible for the current status.