Objective:To know the prevalence of dental caries among the urban and rural citizens in Chongqing to provide evidence for effective programs in preventing dental caries.Methods:Based on The Guideline for the Third National Oral Health Survey

with nonproportional stratified cluster sampling method

3168 citizens from six districts and counties underwent oral examination.Together there were 4 age groups

5

12

35~44 and 65~74 year-old.For each group

male and female were of the same number

and the rural and the urban were also of the same number.A total sample of 2942 was effective.Results: the prevalence rates of dental caries for 5

12

35~44

65~74-year-old groups were 64.34%、23.83%、56.71% and 79.78% respectively

and the mean DMFT(dmft) were 3.57、0.49、1.58 and 5.00 respectively.Both the prevalence rate and the mean DMFT(dmft) of female were higher than those of male except 5-year-old group(P<0.05).The mean DMFT(dmft) in rural was higher than that in urban except 12-year-old group(P<0.01).The filled tooth rates of 4 groups were 0.60%、4.64%、7.36% and 2.44% respectively

and the rate in urban was higher than that in rural(P<0.05).Conclusion:Compare with the result of the second national oral health sampling survey

the prevalence rate of dental caries and the mean DMFT(dmft) of Chongqing inhabitants are lower than the average levels in China except the 65~74-year-old group.However

dental caries still widely exist and the filled tooth rate of each group is comparatively low.