Dental Caries Status and Associated Factors Among Adults in Southeastern Iran: Findings From the Zahedan Adult Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES

Dental caries remains a major public health concern globally. This study aimed to assess the dental caries status and its associated factors among adults in Southeastern Iran.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 10,016 adults aged 35-70 years who participated in the Zahedan Adult Cohort Study (ZACS). The status of dental caries was assessed using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, oral hygiene practices, presence of oral lesions, current cigarette smoking and drug use, and history of chronic condition were collected through valid questionnaires from the ZACS. One-factor and multifactor general linear models were used to identify significant factors associated with DMFT.

RESULTS

In this study, 99.4% of participants had a DMFT score of 1 or higher, indicating a high lifetime experience of dental caries. The mean DMFT score was 17.3. Additionally, 47.91% of participants had filled teeth (1), and 78.7% had decayed teeth (DT), with the 35-40 age group showing the lowest mean DT score of 3.65. Conversely, individuals over 60 had the highest DMFT score of 22.88. In the multifactor model, DMFT significantly increased with age and decreased with higher education levels. DMFT also decreased from underweight to obese individuals. Furthermore, DMFT significantly decreased with increased daily tooth brushing, while cigarette smokers and drug users exhibited significantly higher DMFT scores.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed significant variations in DMFT scores based on age, education, and oral hygiene practices among adults in Southeastern Iran, highlighting the importance of consistent dental brushing. The findings suggest the need for targeted public health interventions, particularly for smokers, drug users, and less educated populations, to address oral health challenges and reduce dental caries prevalence.