Proximal caries prevalence in 19-year-olds living in Sweden. A radiographic study in four counties.
A random sample of all 19-year-olds in four counties in the middle of Sweden in 1994 constituted the group studied. The material consisted of posterior bitewing radiographs from 511 19-year-old patients. The purpose was to study the prevalence and distribution of initial and manifest caries. It was found that on the manifest caries level 56% of the subjects were 'free from caries', in good correspondence with the official epidemiological data from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, but only 27% when initial caries was added. Initial caries lesions constituted 90% of all lesions. The distribution of caries was highly skewed on the manifest caries level whereas initial caries had a broader distribution. Thus, on the surface level 75% of the individuals had 16% of all manifest caries and restorations, and 33% of all initial caries. A high correlation was found between initial and manifest caries, besides increasing with the number of initial lesions. Thus, only 2.5% of individuals without initial caries had manifest caries, compared to 54% of individuals with more than eight affected surfaces. A correlation was also found between the prevalence of manifest caries and restoration. The prevalence of initial caries and its obvious significance for further caries development should be a reason for finding new strategies in caries prevention on a population basis.
Forsling
J O
JO
Community Dental Health Unit, Orebro County Council, Sweden.
Halling
A
A
Lundin
S A
SA
Paulander
J
J
Svenson
B
B
Unell
L
L
Wendt
L K
LK
D000328:Adult; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology