www.rafidaindentj.net 144 Faraed D Salman BDS, MSc (Lect) Khawla M Saleh Dept of Pedod, Orthod and Prev Dent BDS, MSc (Assist Lect) College of Dentistry, University of Mosul Aisha A Qasim BDS, MSc (Assist Lect) ABSTRACT Aims: To evaluate the oral health status (dental caries, periodontal disease and treatment needs) in Yemenis adult individuals. Material and Methods: The sample included 471 individuals, age ranging between 20–59 years of both sexes using sharp dental caries explorers with WHO periodontal probes to detect periodontal health by the use of DMFT index of WHO (1997) and CPITN by WHO (1987). Results: The mean DMFT for the total sample was 7.33 + 0.3 which was increased with increasing age for the different age groups with a significant difference but no significant difference in the mean DMFT for total males and females has been found. The results also showed that the total number of teeth (880) with a mean of 1.81 tooth/person in need of treatment is the most prevalent needed one surface filling, and 581 teeth with a mean of 1.23 tooth/ person needed two or more surfaces filling. According to the highest CPITN there was significant difference between male and female in calculus at p < 0.05 and shallow pockets at p < 0.01. The results also revealed that the mean number of healthy sextants for the total sample was 4.13 while for bleeding and calculus were 1.02 and 0.21, respectively. It means that the treatment needs for periodontal disease is more toward oral hygiene procedure and prophylaxis. Conclusion: Dental health education program is an essential activity for promoting optimal oral health and preventing oral diseases. Key Words: Dental health status, DMFT, CPITN. Salman FD, Saleh KhM, Qasim AA. Dental health status of adult population in Yemen (Thamar City). Al–Rafidain Dent J. 2006; 6(2): 144-150. Received: 4/12/2005 Sent to Referees: 5/12/2005 Accepted for Publication: 22/12/2005 INTRODUCTION Periodontitis is a bacterial infection of all parts of the periodontium including gingiva, periodontal ligament, bone and cementum, which result in irreversible de- struction to the tissue of the periodontium. Periodontal disease is one of the most wid- espread diseases all over the world and more prevalent among population of the developing countries. (1) Periodontal disease usually begins at childhood as gingivitis which increases in prevalence and severity to the early “teen” years and it may lead to the development of periodontitis which is associated with pocket formation and bone resorption in adult population, (2, 3) while dental caries is one of the most prevalent infectious disea- ses of man. It is localized progressive de- mineralization of the hard tissues of the crown (coronal enamel, dentin, root ceme- ntum and dentin) surfaces of teeth. (4) Den- tal caries is age related prevalence beginn- ing soon after tooth eruption in susceptible children and increase with age, (5) and it is most prevalent chronic disease. Once it occurs, its manifestations persist permane- ntly in the form of restoration or tooth lo- ss. (6) There are many factors that affect pr- evalence and severity of dental caries and periodontal disease, the most important fa- ctors are age, (7, 8) sex, (9, 10) income level, place of residence, parental influence, (11) educational level and socioeconomic stat- us. (12) It has also been associated with kno- Dental health status of adult population in Yemen (Thamar City) ISSN: 1812–1217 Al–Rafidain Dent J Vol. 6, No. 2, 2006