Dental health status and treatment needs in the infantry regiment of the Malaysian Territorial Army

• Main Authors: Jasmin, B., Jaafar, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2011
• Subjects: RK Dentistry
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/3484/1/Malaysian_Teritorial_Army.pdf; http://eprints.um.edu.my/3484/2/Dental_Health_Status_and_Treatment_Needs_in_the_Infantry_Regiment_of_the_Malaysian_Territorial_Army.pdf; http://eprints.um.edu.my/3484/

The aim of this study was to determine the dental health status and treatment needs of personnel in the Infantry Regiment of the Malaysian Territorial Army (TA). This cross-sectional study involved stratified and systematic random sampling with a total sample size of 300. Dental health status and treatment needs were assessed using the standard WHO oral assessment criteria (1997). The prevalence of caries experience was 96 (mean +/- SD DMFT decayed, missing, filled teeth = 8.0 +/- 5.5). Active decay prevalence was high (85%; mean +/- SD = 3.6 +/- 3.1) indicating high unmet treatment need. Missing teeth prevalence was high (69%; mean +/- SD = 2.8 +/- 3.7). Filled teeth prevalence was low (56%, mean +/- SD = 1.5 +/- 2.0). In all, 90% of participants required some form of dental treatment, of whom 85% required restorative treatment, 5% advanced restorative treatment, 36.7% extractions, and 45.3% prosthetic treatment. These findings suggest that there was a high need for dental treatment in the Infantry Battalions of Malaysian TA Regiments and the service must be made available to cater to the needs.