Caries Prevalence and Tooth Surface Distribution in a Cohort of 5 to 8-Year-Old Turkish Children

Elif Ece Kalaoglu
Istanbul Gelişim University, Faculty of Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry Department, Istanbul, Turkey

Objective:Dentalcariesremainsasignificantglobalpublichealthconcern,especiallyamongyoungchildrenintheir primary dentition and early mixed dentition phases. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of dental caries and the distribution of affected tooth surfaces among a cohort of Turkish children aged 5 to 8 years. Understanding the prevalence and distribution patterns is crucial for developing effective preventive and treatment strategies. Materials-Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving a representative sample of 104 Turkish children (52 girls, 52 boys) aged 5 to 8 years who attended Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Dentistry between October 2022 and January 2023. Caries detection was performed using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (deft/DMFT) and International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) II indices, following a predefined protocol. A single examiner evaluated participants in a dental operatory using a plain dental mirror and artificial light. Data was then recorded. Tooth surfaces were categorized into proximal (mesial/distal), smooth (buccal/lingual), and occlusal surfaces. ICDAS scores were grouped based on histological depth as follows: 1-2:1, 3-4:2, 5-6:3. Pearson’s chi-square test for inter-group comparisons and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to analyze the distribution of defs scores and ICDAS scores between pairs of contiguous molars. Results: Only 9.6% of the children were caries-free. The DMFT index was 0.59 ± 1.37, and the deft index was 7.43 ± 5.02. A total of 830 primary molars were examined, identifying 969 surfaces affected by dental caries. Notably, the proximal surfaces (43%) of primary molars exhibited a higher susceptibility to carious lesions compared to smooth surfaces (27%) and occlusal surfaces (29%). Histologically, the deepest caries were predominantly found on the proximal surfaces of both upper and lower first primary molars. Upper first primary molars exhibited deeper caries compared to other tooth surfaces. Additionally, the grade of caries on smooth surfaces was lower than that on occlusal and proximal surfaces. Conclusion: The prevalence of caries was notably high in the primary and early mixed dentition phases. Caries distribution primarily localized on primary molars, particularly on their proximal surfaces. These findings emphasize the necessity for preventive measures and early intervention strategies to address this oral health challenge.

Keywords: dental caries, primary molars, mixed dentition, primary dentition, caries prevalence