title: [Will discolored molar fissures within 4 years become carious more frequently than nondiscolored ones? Observations from 1975 to 1988].
abstract: Caries progression was studied in 5242 first molar fissures of children in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, in two observation periods, extending from 1975/76 to 1979/80 and from 1983/84 to 1987/88, respectively. DFT averages at age 12 in the children studied were fairly low, being 3.60 in 1975/76 and 2.21 in 1983/84. Fissures of first molars were classified as completely sound (Grade 0), discolored (Grades 1 and 2) or DF. An exploratory cross-sectional analysis revealed that there is a slow and linear increase of the percentage of DF fissures with increasing age. During the period 1975/76 to 1979/80, Grade 0 fissures became DF with a probability of 14 to 22% while 42 to 54% of the dark brown or black discolored fissures (Grade 2) were DF after four years. In the period 1983/84 to 1987/88, these percentages were lower. It was concluded that in this population with low caries activity there is little reason to apply preventive measures to fissures immediately after their eruption or later to those free from any discoloration.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Präventivzahnmedizin, Parodontologie und Kariologie, Universität Zürich.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Marthaler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bandi
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003750:Dental Fissures / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008963:Molar; D015995:Prevalence; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*
vernacular_title: Werden verfärbte Molarenfissuren innerhalb von vier Jahren häufiger kariös als nichtverfärbte? Beobachtungen aus den Jahren 1975 bis 1988.