Dental health in a group of Swedish 8-year-olds followed since the age of 3

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Abstract
A study was made of the dental health of a group of 8 yr old children studied earlier as 3, 4 and 5 yr olds, including examination of caries, gingivitis and occlusion, and certain data on oral habits and fluoride prophylaxis. Caries was found in 92% of the children. The mean DMFS [decayed, missing and filled tooth surfaces] value was 3.1 and the mean defs [a different index for decayed and filled tooth surfaces] value 8.8. A statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between caries indices at 3 and 8 yr in the group as a whole. Children with a defs value higher than the mean defs value at age 3, had a higher mean DMFS value at age 8 than the rest of the group. Sagittal relationships remained largely unchanged between 3 and 8 yr, while the number of children with an anterior open bite decreased from 51% to 4% during this time, probably due to a decrease in sucking habits.

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