Oral health status and treatment needs among the Juang tribe-a particularly vulnerable tribal group residing in Northern Odisha, India: A cross-sectional study

The study was aimed to assess the oral health status and treatment needs of Juang tribe residing in Bansapal taluk of Northern Odisha. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 1,412 Juangs using a cluster random sampling procedure. Bansapal taluk is subdivided into six Gram Panchayat's (GP) with each GP considered as a cluster. From each of the six GP's, equal number of villages was chosen randomly using lottery method in order to get uniform representation. A total of 16 villages were chosen using this method. From each selected village, every alternate household on each side of the street was included and all the people in that household were surveyed through a door-to-door survey. Data were collected using the WHO Oral Health Assessment Form, 1997. All the examinations were carried out by a single examiner assisted by a trained recording assistant who was sitting close enough to the examiner so that instructions and codes could be easily heard. The periodontal health status as recorded by Community Periodontal Index indicated that majority of the subjects (75.6%) had calculus. Assessment of loss of attachment showed that majority of the subjects (64.5%) had an attachment loss of 0-3 mm. Caries experience in primary dentition was 34.2% and in permanent dentition was 83.4%. The study population was characterised by high prevalence of periodontal disease, dental caries and high treatment needs. The results from this study could be used as a baseline information for health authorities and dental professionals for planning strategies for oral health promotion, prevention and treatment among the Juang population.