Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the DMFT and PUFA scores of 7-12-year-old children from earthquake affected areas, and the accessibility of healthcare services from the perspective of the parents. Materials and methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on three hundred 7-12-year-old children residing in parts of Kermanshah city, Iran, affected by an earthquake. The children were selected by cluster sampling. A control group of 50 children was also designed from a neighboring city not affected by the earthquake. Demographic information of children was collected, and they underwent clinical oral examination to calculate their DMFT and PUFA. Data was analyzed with Spearman’s correlation coefficient, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, sign, and t tests. Results and discussion: The mean score of the test group was significantly higher than that of the control (4.75±2.71 versus 3.12±1.13, P=0.012). The mean PUFA score of the test group was also significantly higher than that of the control (2.07±1.26 versus 1.21±1.06, P=0.00). Accessibility of dental care services in the earthquake affected areas was below the average, according to the opinion of parents. A significant correlation was noted between the DMFT and PUFA scores in both the test and control groups (P<0.05). The education level of parents, gender, age and order of child in the family, and household size had a significant correlation with both DMFT and PUFA scores (P<0.05). Conclusions: Poor access to dental care services in areas affected by the earthquake in Kermanshah, Iran adversely affected the PUFA and DMFT scores of 7-12-year-old children.
Keywords:- Dental Care for Children
- Dental Caries
- earthquake.