Dental Caries in the First Permanent Molar during the Mixed Dentition Stage

Abstract

Background:The early eruption of the first permanent molar (FPM) favors its exposure to the risk factors for dental caries specific to the mixed dentition stage of dental development. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and distribution pattern of FPM dental caries and of the consequences of this pathology -caries with pulp involvement in the FPM and missing FPM (FPM extraction) in a sample of Romanian children during the mixed dentition stage.Materials and methods: Eighty-seven children aged between five and 13 years, who attended a private dental clinic, were enrolled in the present study. The investigations were carried out as part of the comprehensive dental examinations. Written informed consent was obtained from one of the subjects' parents prior to his/her child's participation in this research. The collected data were statistically analyzed with STATA/MP13 software using the Chi square test. The level of significance was set at p<0.05.Results: The prevalence of FPM dental caries was 60.9%. There were statistically significant differences (p = 0.004) in the number of FPMs affected by dental caries per subject in relation to age. No statistically significant differences regarding the number of FPMs affected by dental caries per subject in relation to gender were found. With respect to the distribution pattern of FPM dental caries by location at tooth level, the mesial surface had the highest prevalence (in 36.8% of all investigated subjects), followed by the occlusal surface (33.3%). The prevalence of caries with pulp involvement in the FPM was 19.5% and children in the 10-11-year age group were the most affected (55.5%). There were statistically significant differences regarding the distribution pattern of caries with pulp involvement in the FPM by age (p = 0.0001). The prevalence of FPM extraction was 6.9% and, according to dental history and examination, loss of FPM was due to caries. Among children with missing FPM, five were older than the age recommended for achieving spontaneous space closure, which indicated the need for immediate intervention.

Evolution of the Terminal Plane from Deciduous to Mixed Dentition

“…The changes that occur in these arches are influenced, apart from the genetic load, by different dietary habits-such as the consistency of food, which has changed throughout history-as well as by swallowing, breathing, phonation, and/or tongue position [2,3]. These factors mainly have an influence transversally, although they can also indirectly influence the anteroposterior growth of the arches; however, it is proximal caries in the posterior sectors or premature loss of primary molars that can play an important and direct role in the anteroposterior occlusion [4,5].…”