title: A study on the prevalence of caries incipiens in 7-, 12- and 14-year-old children from Plovdiv.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The decline in dental caries prevalence in many countries of the world in the last decades requires the adoption of new approaches towards determination of prevention strategies. The individuals and groups at high risk of developing caries should be differentiated from the rest of the population with the aim of carrying out selective prevention. Of particular interest is the determination of the risk of developing caries before it is clinically manifested as this would allow execution of a timely and adequate prevention. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of caries incipiens on the teeth and on the dental surfaces in 7-, 12- and 14-year-old children and to compare it with the prevalence of clinical caries in the same population groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is representative by design and compares 600 children aged 7, 12 and 14 years from Plovdiv. The study is designed and carried out in compliance with the guidelines of WHO for conducting clinico-statistical study of dental caries. The diagnostic procedure of caries incipiens is visual-tactile. The test of vital staining with 2% water solution of Methylene Blau was also used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caries incipiens prevalence was found to be higher than that of clinical caries in 7-year-old children (P < 0.001). In 12- and 14-year-old children the ratio of caries incipiens to clinical caries shifts in favour of clinical caries (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher prevalence of caries incipiens compared to clinical caries in 7-year-old children (P < 0.001) justifies its more extensive investigation as a predictive factor for developing caries in the 7-12 years age range groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Higher Medical Institute, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kukleva
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kondeva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002031:Bulgaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors