The relationship between caries in the primary dentition at 5 years of age and permanent dentition at 10 years of age – a longitudinal study

Abstract

Summary. Objectives. To explore a possible relationship between the caries experience and pattern in the primary dentition at 5 years of age and the permanent dentition at 10 years of age. Further, to examine the possibility of predicting children in a caries-risk group at 5 years verified at 10 years of age. Materials and methods. A sample of 186 children (90 males) were clinically examined as 5-year-olds and re-examined as 10-year-olds by calibrated dentists. A five-graded diagnostic system including enamel caries was used. Bitewing radiographs were taken. A true risk group of children at 10 years were defined as those with at least one dentin or filled lesion on the mesial surface of 6-year molars, and/or on incisors, and/or total DMFS (decayed, missing, and filled surfaces) more than 1 SD above the mean. The prediction was measured in terms of OR (odds ratio), sensitivity/specificity, and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results. Statistically significant correlations ( r = 0·5) were found between the caries experience in the two dentitions as well as between the primary second molars at baseline and the permanent teeth at 10 years. 'Primary second molars' and 'all primary molars' were the most powerful predictors for allocation into the risk group (24% of the sample). The highest achieved sum of sensitivity and specificity, 148%, was attained at a cut-off point above two carious surfaces in enamel and/or dentin in primary second molars. Conclusions. Statistically significant relationship in disease between the dentitions was found. More than two surfaces with caries experience in primary second molars are suggested as a clinically useful predictor at 5 years of age for being at high risk at age 10.

Extraction of first permanent molar teeth: results from three dental hospitals

“…12 A total of 120 children had previously experienced extrac tions, and the majority of FPMs (68%) extracted had received no previous treatment: only 5% had evidence of fi ssure seal ants. Although it is well established that the caries status in young permanent teeth is related to the status in the primary teeth, 1,18 the results of this study suggest that these children with a high caries risk were not targeted with a prevention strategy including the use of fissure sealants, which have been shown to be effective in preventing dental caries in suscep tible teeth and individuals. 19,20 The need to resort to general anaesthesia in more than half of the children may be due to a lack of co-operation, which may explain the low number of fissure sealants and restorations in the FPMs proposed for extraction.…”

“…1 In 2003, 43% of 12-year-old children in the UK had some caries expe rience. 2 In addition, 10-19% of children have some form of hypomineralised FPM as part of a condition known as molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH).…”

Atividade de cárie na dentição decídua, Indaiatuba, São Paulo, Brasil, 2004

“…Estudar a saúde bucal em crianças de até cinco anos de idade torna-se importante devido ao fato da experiência de cáries na dentição decídua ser considerada como o mais forte preditor da doença na dentição permanente 1,2,3 . Em estudo longitudinal, Skeie et al 3 verificaram que apresentar duas superfícies dentárias cariadas aos cinco anos de idade foi um preditor clínico de alta experiência de cárie aos dez anos de idade.…”

The Associated Factors of Permanent First Molar Caries in 7-9 Years Old Children

“…(3) It is well established that the caries status in the young permanent dentition is related to the corresponding status in the primary dentition and when caries is established, past caries experience remains the most powerful known single predictor of future caries in the young permanent dentition. (4) There is abundant epidemiological evidence that dietary sugars are the major dietary factor affecting dental caries prevalence and progression. Sucrose seems to be the most cariogenic sugar, not only because of its acidogenic metabolism, but also because Mutans Streptococci utilize this sugar to produce the extracellular polysaccharide glucan.…”