DISCUSSION
Contemporary data on the oral health status of
Pakistani children is limited, particularly for the North
Western province. It has been noted that a 50 percent
reduction in the caries experience has occurred in the
urban areas over a ten-year period starting in the early
1980s. During this time no known changes in the
preventive measures have been noted32. It is an interesting
phenomenon probably due to the use of fluoride
containing dentifrices and better oral hygiene.20,55
Seventy to eighty percent of the population in most
of the developing countries resides in rural areas.
There is a trend toward high caries prevalence and
high levels of periodontal and mucosal diseases22,28.
Developing countries, in general, have shortages of
trained personal; a high level of unmet dental needs
and limited resources. Coupled with an alarming growth
in population51, these problems will go unresolved for
many years.