Oral health survey of children in orphanages in Kerala, India

As of 2010 there were approximately 32 million orphaned children in India alone. Few studies report on the oral health of children residing in orphanages. At present there are 417 registered orphanages in the State of Kerala, with approximately 98 children per orphanage. In India, where extremes of poverty and wealth exist side by side, health services must cater for the needs and demands of all. It is not possible to plan effectively for an oral health service, program or policy without data on existing disease levels and related treatment needs. The purpose of this project is to produce a database on the oral health status and treatment needs of children residing in orphanages & based on the data gathered to develop an evidence-based, feasible and sustainable model of oral care for these children.