Caries experience and distribution by tooth surfaces in primary molars in the pre-school child population of Lodz, Poland

To evaluate caries experience in primary molars as well as the differences in caries prevalence and caries lesion location on individual tooth surfaces between first and second primary molars in pre-school children.A cross-sectional study was conducted on 307 children, aged 3 to 5 years, from randomly chosen kindergartens in Lodz, Poland. Caries experience was scored according to WHO recommendations. The caries intensity (dmft, dmfts) for first and second primary molars was calculated. In addition, the percentage of particular surfaces with caries was counted for each molar separately.The mean dmft for primary molars was 1.84 (dmfts = 2.47) and dmft > 0 was seen in 53.09% of the study subjects. While in the entire examined population dmft and dmfts for first and second molars did not differ significantly, in 5-year-old children, the left mandibular first molar was associated with a higher caries intensity than the left mandibular second molar (dmfts = 0.465 vs 0.344, Z = -1.98, p = 0.04). However, in 5-year-olds, higher caries occurrence was seen for occlusal surfaces of the tooth 85 than 84 (33.62% vs 20.68%, χ2 = 4.09, p = 0.03). The distal surface was more frequently affected in first molars than in second molars in children aged 4 (85 vs 84, χ2 = 17.1, p < 0.001; 75 vs 74, χ2 = 11.5, p = 0.007, 55 vs 54; χ2 = 4.6, p = 0.03) and 5 years (54 vs 55, χ2 = 20.09; 64 vs 65, χ2 = 16.75; 74 vs 75, χ2 = 21.6; 84 vs 85, χ2 = 31.07; all comparisons p < 0.001). In contrast, the mesial surfaces of mandibular second molars demonstrated more caries than the homologous surfaces of first molars, both in 4-year-olds (85 vs 84, χ2 = 6.15, p = 0.01) and 5-year-olds (75 vs 74, χ2 = 3.9, p = 0.04).In 5-year-old children, caries of occlusal and mesial surfaces was more common in primary second molars. However, distal surfaces were affected more in first than second molars.Agnieszka Bruzda-Zwiech, Renata Filipińska, Beata Borowska-Strugińska, Elżbieta Żądzińska, Magdalena Wochna-Sobańsk

State of dentition and treatment needs assessment in 3 to 7-year-old children living in Lodz

An early detection of caries allows for introduction of minimally invasive treatment and has additional significance in preventing serious caries sequelae such as pulp or periapical inflammation, and even loss of teeth. Screening of oral health should form a part of routine medical care in children. Aim of the study. To evaluate the state of dentition and treatment needs in 3 to 7 year-old children. Materials and methods. The study covered 731 children (388 girls and 34 3boys) living in Lodz, who were subdivided into 5 age groups, with annual breakdown of age: 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7-year-old children. An intra-oral examination was conducted to asses dental caries in deciduous and permanent dentition. Caries diagnosis was based on the WHO recommendation. Caries prevalence, intensity and treatment index were calculated on the basis of the obtained data. Results. The prevalence of caries in the examined population was 72.2%. It was the lowest in 3-year-old children (43.6%) and the highest (85%) in those aged 7. Caries intensity in deciduous teeth (dmft) for children aged 3 was 1.53 and it increased up to 4.07 in 7 year olds. The average dmft in 3-7 years old was composed mainly of untreated caries, and the treatment index in the examined group was low (0.32). Mean score of the DMFT was 0.07 in 5-year- olds, and increased with age, up to 0.73 in children aged 7. The average treatment index for permanent dentition in this age range was 0.22. Conclusions. The low values of treatment index and the findings that the average dmft in 3-7 year-old children and DMFT in 5-7- year-olds were mainly determined by the presence of untreated caries, indicate that dental care for this group is not well provided. It is necessary to introduce health education programs that promote proper health behaviours and increase parental awareness of the need for deciduous teeth treatment, and for regular assessment of the status of newly erupted permanent teeth.Agnieszka Bruzda-Zwiech, Renata Filipińska, Beata Szydłowska-Walendowska, Beata Lubowiedzka-Gontarek, Elżbieta Żądzińska, Beata Borowska-Strugińska, Magdalena Wochna-Sobańsk

Occurrence of caries in the permanent dentition of 8- to 12-year-old children living in the Lodz urban area

Abstract and keywords also in Polish. Title in Polish = Występowanie próchnicy w uzębieniu stałym u dzieci w wieku od 8 do 12 lat zamieszkujących w ŁodziBackground. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a decline in caries intensity in schoolchildren, although a simultaneously increasing polarization of the disease has been observed. Objectives. The aim of the study was to determine the appearance of caries in the permanent dentition of 8- to 12-year-old children living in Lodz. Material and Methods. A group of 700 children (385 boys and 315 girls) attending randomly selected public primary schools in Lodz were examined. The children were subdivided into 5 age groups, with an annual breakdown (8, 9, 10, 11 and 12-year-olds). An intra-oral examination was conducted to assess dental caries in permanent dentition. Caries diagnosis was based on the WHO recommendation. The prevalence and intensity of caries, as well as the Significant Caries Index (SiC) were calculated based on the obtained data. Results. The prevalence of caries in the permanent dentition of the examined population was 58%. It was the highest (70%) in children aged 10. The mean DMFT for children 8 years of age was 0.9, and increased to 2.4 in 12-yearolds. In all age groups, DMFT mainly consisted of untreated caries. Also the SiC index increased with children’s age (from 2.42 in 8-year-olds to 5.56 in 12-year-olds). Conclusions. The results of the study revealed high SiC values, which indicates the necessity of introducing intensive preventive programs for schoolchildren, especially for the one third with the highest DMFT values, to increase the possibility of achieving the WHO oral health goal for the year 2015 in children aged 12.Agnieszka Bruzda-Zwiech, Renata Filipińska, Beata Szydłowska-Walendowska, Beata Lubowiedzka-Gontarek, Beata Borowska-Strugińska, Elżbieta Żądzińska, Magdalena Wochna-Sobańsk

Prenatal and familial factors of caries in first permanent molars in schoolchildren living in urban area of Lodz, Poland

Abstract not availableBeata Borowska-Strugińska, Elżbieta Żądzińska, Agnieszka Bruzda-Zwiech, Renata Filipińska, Beata Lubowiecka-Gontarek, Beata Szydłowska-Walendowska, Magdalena Wochna-Sobańsk