Oral health in Tunisia.

Current WHO methods were employed to estimate the prevalence of toothbrush possession, tea drinking, tobacco habits, fluorosis, dentofacial anomalies, periodontal diseases, dental caries as well as treatment needs in schoolchildren in Tunisia, the smallest country in North Africa. Fluorosis was endemic in some regions. Dentofacial anomalies were more frequent than in the other countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). The prevalence of periodontal disease was high despite the high percentage of toothbrush possession. Altogether 60% of 12-year-olds and 70% of 15-year-olds required oral hygiene instruction, 44% and 15% respectively required scaling. Dental caries was also relatively frequent, but indices were low and the dental therapeutic index was very low. Of the 6-12- and 15-year-olds, 52%, 44% and 52%, respectively needed restorative care. Moreover, 19% of 6-year-olds, 20% of 12-year-olds and 5% of 15-year-olds required extractions. None of 6-year-olds, 3% of 12-year-olds and 5% of 15-year-olds required other dental treatment such as pulpal treatment and prosthetics. A comparison with a survey carried out 13 years ago indicated that dental caries seemed to be decreasing. The DMF at age 12 was lower than WHO goals for the Year 2000 and of the Eastern Mediterranean Region countries. The findings showed an unequal distribution of oral health personnel, with the southern part of the country being particularly underserved.