Oral health of children in southern Sudan.

426 4- 17-year-old children (89% males) from the Jonglei Province and 50 12- and 15-year-old children from Juba town in Southern Sudan were examined according to WHO criteria (9). The prevalence of calculus and intense gingivitis was high, and highest at ages 8 and 9 years. 8% of 25-year-old children had advanced periodontal disease but this was confined to the anterior mandibular region. Caries prevalence was very low, but much higher in Juba town (36% at both age 12 and age 15 years) than in the Jonglei Province children (4% at 12 years and 8% at 15 years of age). The pastoral, isolated existence of the inhabitants of the Jonglei Province is likely to change with the completion of the Jonglei canal.