Caries susceptibility of permanent first and second molars in children aged 5-15 years

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Abstract
Clinical examinations of 276 5-yr-old children were carried out twice yearly for 2 1/2 yr and a further 1104 11-12-yr-old children were examined annually for 3 yr. Fifty percent of permanent 1st molar teeth had erupted by 6.4 yr; the mean age of eruption for permanent 2nd molar teeth was 12.2 yr. One yr after these mean eruption dates, over 10% of 1st molars and 45% of 2nd permanent molars were already carious. Although development of caries was initially slower in permanent 1st molars, between the ages of 7.5-8.5 yr the caries increment rose to 18.8%. By the age of 15 yr the DMF [decayed, missing, filled (teeth)] was 92% for 1st and 68% for 2nd molar teeth. The missing and filled proportion of the total DMF rose consistently. This represents the amounts of treated caries and exceeded the amount of untreated caries in permanent 1st molars at all age levels. Restorative programs and preventive regimens for children must apparently be based on frequent recall examinations of not more than 6-mo. intervals.

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