Tooth and tooth surface survival rates in birth cohorts from 1965, 1970, 1975, and 1980 in Lahti, Finland.
Differences in the tooth and tooth surface survival rates between four cohorts born in 1965, 1970, 1975, and 1980 were analysed in a historical cohort study including data on the permanent teeth of children aged 5-7 years at baseline and 19 years at the end of the study. A statistically significant reduction in caries occurrence in fissured surfaces in the three oldest cohorts was seen during the 3 years after the eruption of the teeth. Caries occurrence in the cohorts born in 1975 and 1980 did not differ from each other. The occurrence of caries in smooth surfaces was low in all age cohorts. Therefore, despite a systematic decrease in caries occurrence towards the younger cohorts, no significant differences were found between the cohorts in smooth surface decay. After the 3 first posteruptive years, practically no differences in survival rates between the cohorts were observed. In the two youngest cohorts, the figures during the 3 first years after eruption did not differ from the figures for the later years. Throughout the study, caries occurrence was symmetric and no gender differences were observed. No postponement of decay was found by the end of the follow-up time.
Suni
J
J
Lahti Health Center, Finland. jorma.suni@lahti.fi
Helenius
H
H
Alanen
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000191:economics*; D016019:Survival Analysis