Annals of Community Health (AoCH) pISSN 2347-5455 | eISSN 2347-5714

An Indexed (Index Medicus, DOAJ and More), Peer Reviewed, Quarterly, International Journal focusing exclusively on
Community Medicine and Public Health

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Study of Sociodemographic and Clinical Profile of Patients Attending

Dental Outpatient Department of a Government Tertiary Care Hospital in
Adilabad District of Telangana

Vinod Balla1, Vijayalakshmi Eruva2, Rafath Unnisa Begum3

ABSTRACT

Background: Oral diseases pose a major health burden for several countries and people throughout their lifetime. Predominant
oral disease conditions include dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss, oral cancer, oral manifestations of HIV infection,
orodental trauma, and birth defects such as cleft lip and palate. Most of these oral health conditions are largely preventable and can
be treated in their early stages. Hence, the present study was conducted to analyze the demographic and clinical profile of patients
attending dental outpatient department (OPD) to effectively utilize the available recourses in future planning of prevention and
control of oral health problems. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in the dental OPD of
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Adilabad, Telangana. In this study, 3457 patient’s case records from January 1, 2019,
to December 31, 2019, were reviewed. The details such as age, gender, residence, chief complaints, and diagnosis of presenting
conditions were noted. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Out of total 3457 patients, who attended the dental
OPD, maximum number of patients belonged to the age group of 21–30 years and majority 52.1% was male. Dental caries
(64.2%) was the most common dental disease, followed by periodontitis (10.2%), gingivitis (6.2%), pericoronitis (5.9%), abrasion
(4.1%), impacted teeth (3.4%), jaw fractures and fractured teeth (1.8%), and oral cancers and pre-cancerous lesions. Dental caries
(66.4%), periodontitis (61.3%), fractures and trauma (97%), and cancers and precancerous lesions (89.1%) are more common
in male patients compared to female patients. Conclusion: Dental caries was the most common condition seen among all the
patients attending dental OPD. Majority of these dental diseases are preventable with timely intervention.

Key words: Clinical profile, dental caries, periodontitis, dental outpatient department

INTRODUCTION and birth defects such as cleft lip and palate.[1] Untreated

O
dental caries (tooth decay) in permanent teeth is the most
ral health is a key indicator of overall health, common health condition. More than 530 million children
well-being, and quality of life. Oral diseases suffer from dental caries of primary teeth (milk teeth).
pose a major health burden for several countries Severe periodontal (gum) disease, which may result in tooth
and people throughout their lifetime.[1] In most low- and loss, is also very common, with almost 10% of the global
middle-income countries, with increasing urbanization and population affected.[2]
changes in living conditions, the prevalence of oral diseases
continues to increase. The global burden of disease study Oral cancer (cancer of the lip or mouth) is one of the
2017 estimated that oral diseases affect 3.5 billion people three most common cancers in some countries of Asia and
worldwide.[2] Predominant oral disease conditions are
dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss, oral cancer, Correspondence: Dr. Vinod Balla, Department of Dentistry,
oral manifestations of HIV infection, orodental trauma, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Adilabad, Telangana,
India. E-mail: drvinodballa@[Link]
1
Department of Dentistry, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical
Sciences, Adilabad, Telangana, India How to cite: Balla V, Eruva V, Begum RU. Study of
2
Department of Community Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Sociodemographic and Clinical Profile of Patients Attending
Medical Sciences, Adilabad, Telangana, India Dental Outpatient Department of a Government Tertiary Care
3
Department of Community Medicine, Dr. VRK Women’s Medical Hospital in Adilabad District of Telangana. Ann Community
College, Hyderabad, Telangana, India Health 2020;8(4):1-5.

1 Annals of Community Health OCT - DEC 2020 | Vol 8 | Issue 04

 Balla, et al.: Sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients attending dental OPD

the Pacific. Factors contributing to oral diseases are an Table 1: Sociodemographic profile of the study population
unhealthy diet high in sugar, use of tobacco, and harmful (n=3457)
use of alcohol which is common to four leading non-
Sociodemographic Categories Frequency Percentage
communicable diseases – cardiovascular diseases, cancer, Profile
chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. There is a proven
Age groups ≤10 years 256 7.4
relationship between oral and general health. For example,
it is reported that the diabetes is linked with the development 11–20 years 325 9.4
and progression of periodontitis. Treatment for oral health 21–30 years 992 28.6
conditions is expensive and usually not part of universal 31–40 years 901 26.0
health coverage.[1] Treatment of common dental diseases 41–50 years 499 14.4
involves restorative therapy, which is not only expensive 51–60 years 301 8.8
but also time taking, technique sensitive, and sometimes 61–70 years 152 4.4
painful.[3] This is primarily due to inadequate exposure to
71–80 years 31 0.9
fluoride (in the water supply and oral hygiene products such
as toothpaste) and poor access to oral health-care services Gender Male 1802 52.1
in the community. Marketing of food and beverages high in Female 1655 47.9
sugar, as well as tobacco and alcohol, has led to a growing Residence Urban 1466 42.4
consumption of products that contribute to oral health Rural 1991 57.6
conditions and other non-communicable diseases. Most
oral health conditions are largely preventable and can be
of which mean age of the patients is 34.4, with a standard
treated in their early stages.[1] The rationale for conducting
deviation of 15.4 years. Maximum (28.6%) patients belonged
this study was to analyze the demographic and clinical
to the age group of 21–30 years. Among 3457 patients,
profile of patients attending dental outpatient department
majority (52.1%) was male and majority (57.6%) of them
(OPD) to effectively utilize the available recourses in future
belongs to rural background.
planning of prevention and control of oral health problems.
Graph 1 shows the pattern of diseases seen among patients
MATERIALS AND METHODS who attended the dental OPD during the study period. Dental
caries (64.2%) was the most common dental disease in our
A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in the study followed by periodontitis (10.2%), gingivitis (6.2%),
dental OPD of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences pericoronitis (5.9%), abrasion (4.1%), impacted teeth (3.4%),
(RIMS), Adilabad, Telangana, India. It is a teaching hospital jaw fractures and fractured teeth (1.8%), oral cancers and
located in Adilabad district of North Telangana, which caters pre-cancerous lesions such as leukoplakia, lichen planus, and
to the population of Adilabad, Utnoor, Asifabad, Nirmal, oral submucous fibrosis (1.5%), attrition (1.2%), and other
and Mancheriyal districts and other surrounding districts of conditions such as mucocele, aphthous ulcers, missing teeth,
Maharashtra state. The majority of patients who attend RIMS angular cheilitis, and space infections constituted minor
are from tribal population. proportions.

After obtaining the Institutional Ethical Committee Table 2 shows the pattern of dental diseases and their
permission, all the case records from January 1, 2019, to distribution according to gender and association of gender
December 31, 2019, were included in the study. A total of versus dental diseases. Dental caries (66.4%), periodontitis
3457 patient’s case records were reviewed. The details such (61.3%), fractures and trauma (97%), and cancers and pre-
as age, gender, residence, chief complaints, and diagnosis of cancerous lesions (89.1%) are more common in male patients
presenting conditions were noted from the case record. Data compared to female patients. This shows a statistically
were entered into Microsoft Excel version 13.0 and were significant association between the gender and above-
analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive summary mentioned diseases with P < 0.005. Gingivitis (61.6%) and
using frequencies, proportions, graphs, and cross tabs was pericoronitis (55.4%) are more common in females.
used to display study results. Association among various
factors was determined using Chi-square test. Probability (p) Table 3 shows that the distribution of dental diseases
was calculated to test for statistical significance at 5% level according to age groups shows that dental caries (24.1%),
of significance. periodontitis (28.1%), and fractures and trauma (43.1%)
were more common in the age group of 21–30 years.
RESULTS Diseases such as gingivitis (30.1%) and pericoronitis (45%)
were more common in the age group of 31–40 years. Cancers
Table 1 shows the sociodemographic characteristics of the and pre-cancer lesions were common in the age group of
patients. A total of 3457 patients attended the dental OPD 51–60 years.

OCT - DEC 2020 | Vol 8 | Issue 04 Annals of Community Health 2
 Balla, et al.: Sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients attending dental OPD

Table 2: Gender-wise distribution of dental diseases among patients and association of gender versus dental diseases
Sr. No. Dental disease Male (%) Female (%) Total (%) P-value
1. Dental Caries 1473 (66.4) 746 (33.6) 2219 (100) 0.001
2. Periodontitis 217 (61.3) 137 (38.7) 354 (100) 0.003
3. Gingivitis 82 (38.4) 132 (61.6) 214 (100) 0.002
4. Pericoronitis 91 (44.6) 113 (55.4) 204 (100) 0.02
5. Abrasion 76 (52.7) 69 (47.3) 145 (100) 0.94
6. Impaction 63 (53.2) 55 (46.8) 118 (100) 0.85
7. Fracture and trauma 60 (97) 02 (3) 62 (100) 0.0001
8. Cancer and pre-cancerous lesions 46 (89.1) 06 (10.9) 52 (100) 0.0001
9. Attrition 26 (54.4) 22 (45.6) 48 (100) 0.88
10. Total 1802 (52.1) 1655 (47.9) 3457 (100)

Table 3: Distribution of the study population according to age groups

Dental diseases Age groups (in years) Total P-value
<10 11–20 21–30 31–40 41–50 51–60 61–70 71–80
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
Dental caries 46 368 535 476 381 277 136 00 2219 0.002 χ2 for
(2.1%) (16.6%) (24.1%) (21.4%) (17.2%) (12.5%) (6.1%) (0%) (100%) trend =94.5
Periodontitis 16 42 99 76 48 55 16 2 354 DF=47
(4.5%) (11.6%) (28.1%) (21.6%) (13.4%) (15.7%) (4.6%) (0.5%) (100%)
Gingivitis 4 16 36 64 52 33 8 1 214
(1.6%) (7.8%) (16.4%) (30.1%) (24.4%) (15.7%) (3.6%) (0.4%) (100%)
Pericoronitis 00 (0%) 11 49 22 (45%) 56 33 10 00 204
(5.6%) (24.1%) (26.9%) (16.1%) (5.3%) (0%) (100%)
Fractures and 4 8 27 15 8 00 (0%) 00 (0%) 00 62
trauma (6.7%) (12.3%) (43.1%) (24.3%) (13.6%) (0%) (100%)
Cancer and pre- 00 (0%) 00 (0%) 00 (0%) 12 22 18 00 (0%) 00 52
cancerous lesions (23.4%) (42%) (34.6%) (0%) (100%)

Angular chelitis
Apthus ulcers
Attrition
Fractures and trauma
Abrasion
Gingivitis
Dental Caries
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percentage of Total cases

Graph 1: Clinical profile of the study population

DISCUSSION Central India.[4]  In another study done by Dasgupta et al.

observed that maximum number of study subjects presenting
In the present study, the mean age of the patients is 34.4 with dental problems were in the age group of 30–39 and
years, with a standard deviation of 15.4 years. Maximum 40–49 years (24.6% and 20.2% respectively), which is not
number of patients (28.6%) belonged to the age group of in accordance with the present study, 14.5%, 18.3%, 13.7%,
21–30 years, followed by 31–40 years (26.0%), 41–50 years and 8.7% of patients were in the age group of 10–19, 20–29,
(14.4%), 11–20 years (9.4%), 51–60 years (8.8%), ≤10 years 50–59, and ≥60 years, respectively. About 56.3% of study
(7.4%), 61–70 years (4.4%), and 71–80 years (0.9%) which subjects were female and rest (43.7%) were male.[5] These
is in accordance with the study done by Jindwani et al. in findings are not consistent with the present study. In the

3 Annals of Community Health OCT - DEC 2020 | Vol 8 | Issue 04

 Balla, et al.: Sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients attending dental OPD

present study, male patients were 52.1% and female patients patients and the association shows statistical significance
were 47.9%. One more study done by Garkoti et al. showed (P = 0.002). In the study done Garkoti et al.,[6] dental caries,
that majority (25.3%) of the patients belonged to 30–39 years gingivitis, and fractures were common in 30–39 years, the
of age group, followed by 40–49 years (21.63%), 20–29 reason being, in their study, majority patients belonged to
years (18.18%), 50–59 years (15.86%), and 10–19 years the same age group, whereas in the present study, majority
(11.63%) while minimum (7.4%) number of patients belongs patients belonged to 21–30 years.
to ≥60 years of age and 51.54% of the patients were male
while 48.46% were female.[6]
CONCLUSION
In this study, the prevalence of dental caries was found to
The present study was an attempt to establish baseline
be maximum, that is, 64.2%, followed by periodontitis
data in the government tertiary care hospital. Further
(10.2%), gingivitis (6.2%), pericoronitis (5.9%), abrasion
studies can be done based on this data. Dental caries was
(4.1%), impacted teeth (3.4%), jaw fractures and fractured
the most commonly seen dental disease condition among
teeth (1.8%), oral cancers and pre-cancerous lesions such
all the patients attending dental OPD. Most of the patients
as leukoplakia, lichen planus, and oral submucous fibrosis
belong to 21–30 years and were from rural background.
(1.5%), attrition (1.2%), and other conditions such as
mucocele, aphthous ulcers, missing teeth, angular cheilitis, Majority of these dental diseases are preventable with timely
and space infections constituted minor proportions. Similarly, intervention.
a study done by Jindwani et al. also showed high prevalence
of dental caries in their study.[4] In a hospital-based study in Limitations
Kolkata by Dasgupta et al. observed that 68.9% of the patients
Limitation of the study is that the results of this study cannot
had dental caries,[5] the findings are similar as present study
be generalized to the community as it is a hospital-based
conducted by Garkoti et al., the prevalence of dental caries
study with limited sample size.
was found to be maximum, that is, 54.54%, followed by
gingivitis (37.62%). Abrasion was found in 3.82% of patients
while malocclusion, pericoronitis, and jaw fracture were seen Recommendations
in 3.05%, 0.53%, and 0.44% of patients, respectively.[6] In a
Health education on oral hygiene, healthy eating habits from
prospective study of dental disease pattern done by Hassan
very early age at school level will definitely prevent dental
et al.[7] in Srinagar hospital, found that dental caries (60.3%)
caries and other oral health problems. More emphasis should
was most common followed by Periodontitis (18.3%) and
be given on preventive care rather curative care. Dental units
gingivitis (11.3%). The retained deciduous comprised
in the government hospitals need to be strengthened to tackle
3.3% and other diseases which include fractured tooth and
all kinds of dental diseases. Early screening and prompt
orthodontic problems comprised another 6.3%.[7]
referral of precancerous lesions will save many lives and will
In the present study, the gender-wise distribution of dental reduce the health-care cost on the society. Further prospective
diseases shows that dental caries (66.4%) were more common studies with good sample size need to be done to understand
in males and the association was statistically significant, the essential treatment modalities.
P < 0.001. This finding was consistent with the finding of the
study done by Garkoti et al.[6] Periodontitis (61.3%), fractures REFERENCES
and trauma (97%), and cancers and pre-cancerous lesions
(89.1%) were also more common in male patients compared 1. World Health Organisation. Oral Health Fact Sheet. Geneva:
to female patients and show a significant statistically World Health Organisation; 2020. Available from: http://
association, P < 0.05. However, gingivitis (61.6%) and [Link]/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health. [Last
pericoronitis (55.4%) were more common in females which accessed on 2020 May 04].
also showed a statistically significant association. This 2. GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence
finding was not consistent with Garkoti et al. study.[6] Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence,
prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases
and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017:
Distribution of dental diseases according to age groups
A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study
shows that dental caries (24.1%), periodontitis (28.1%), and
2017. Lancet 2018;392:1789-858.
fractures and trauma (43.1%) were more common in the age 3. Adhikari RB, Malla N, Bhandari PS. Prevalance and treatment
group 21–30 years. Diseases such as gingivitis (30.1%) and needs of dental caries in school going children attending dental
pericoronitis (45%) were more common in the age group of outpatient department of a tertiary care centre in western region
31–40 years. Cancers and pre-cancer lesions were common in of Nepal. Nepal J Med Sci 2012;1:115-8.
the age group of 51–60 years, which explain that trauma and 4. Jindwani K, Singh K, Shrivastava GP, Gaharwar AP. A
caries were more common in young age group and cancers retrospective study of diagnostic profile of patients attending
and pre-cancerous lesions were more common in elderly dental outpatient department at a teritiary care center in central

OCT - DEC 2020 | Vol 8 | Issue 04 Annals of Community Health 4
 Balla, et al.: Sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients attending dental OPD

India. J Evol Med Dent Sci 2015;4:1077-83. 6. Garkoti PD, Rawat MS, Singh RK, Rawat V, Bartwal J,
5. Dasgupta U, Mallik S, Naskar S, Choudhury K, Paria B, Goyal N. Pattern of dental diseases among patients attending
Bhattacharya SK. Dental problems and its epidemiological outpatient department of dental: A hospital based cross-
factors a study on adolescent and adult patients attending sectional study. Natl J Med Res 2015;5:112-5.
dental OPD of a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata, India. IOSR 7. Hassan S, Hassan AU. A Prospective study of dental disease
J Dent Med Sci 2013;5:1-7. pattern. Int J Clin Surg Adv 2013;1:29-32.

5 Annals of Community Health OCT - DEC 2020 | Vol 8 | Issue 04