The association of early dental caries patterns with caries incidence in preschool children.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the development of caries in preschool children over two years according to baseline caries pattern.


METHODS
Connecticut Head Start children (n = 142, mean age = 3.8 years) were examined for dental caries at baseline (spring 1991) and once annually for two years. Children were categorized at baseline as caries-free, having pit and fissure (PF) caries, or having maxillary anterior (MA) caries.


RESULTS
After two years, children who presented at baseline with MA or PF caries had a mean posterior dmfs of greater than seven and four times, respectively, that of children who were caries-free at baseline. When dental caries of the primary dentition was categorized by specific posterior patterns (i.e., posterior proximal [PP] and buccal/lingual [BL]), change in dmfs for the PP and BL patterns in the group that presented with pit/fissure caries at baseline were nearly four and three times greater, respectively, than for those in the caries-free group. The group that presented with maxillary anterior caries at baseline had PP and BL caries increments eight times those of children who began caries-free.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental caries presentation in 3- to 4-year-old children can identify those children and tooth surfaces that will be at the greatest risk for future caries development.
O'Sullivan
D M
DM
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT06030-1610, USA. osullivan@sun.uchc.edu
Tinanoff
N
N
D001641:Bicuspid; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D003481:Cuspid; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D003750:Dental Fissures / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007180:Incisor; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D008963:Molar; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous