Comparative Evaluation of the Prevalence of Dental Caries, Apical Periodontitis and Periapical Abscess in a Population of North Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Background: Dental caries and periodontal diseases are considered as a major public health problem
globally and can be seen across all age groups and in all populations. Several socio-behavioral factors like
stress-strain of changing lifestyles as well as consumption of high-sugar diet leads to the alteration in the
balance of hormones like progesterone, estrogen and GSH and can affect prevalence of dental diseases.
Aims: To evaluate and compare the prevalence of dental caries, apical periodontitis and periapical abscess
in a population of North Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Materials and Methods: 60 patients from north
Lucknow population were observed in a free dental camp. Out of these 60 patients, nothing was seen
in 30 patients (control group) and in other 30 patients dental caries, apical periodontitis and periapical
abscess were detected. Diagnosis was done with the help of diagnostic instruments and intraoral periapical
radiographs. Out of the 30 patients in which dental diseases were detected, 6 people had dental caries, 17
had apical periodontitis and the remaining 7 had periapical abscess. Conclusions: In this study, dental caries
were found to be more prevalent in females than in males. However, both apical periodontitis and periapical
abscess were more prevalent in males.