title: Specificity of caries attack in early childhood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knowledge of the caries-affected teeth and dental surfaces at a specific age can be of great importance for the effective prevention and treatment of dental caries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to determine caries incidence by tooth types and tooth surfaces, totally and separately by jaws in children from 12 to 47 months of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was representative and was conducted in accordance with the World Health Organization requirements for epidemiological study of dental caries. It comprised 370 children from 12 to 47 months of age, selected by a random sampling method. Three age groups were formed: group I (12-23 months), group II (24-35 months), and group III (36-47 months). Dental caries on a cavitation level was diagnosed by means of a probe and a mirror.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In children from groups I and II the highest caries incidence rate was found to be on the vestibular surfaces of the central and lateral incisors of the upper jaw, followed by the caries on the occlusal surfaces of the molars of both jaws. In group III this trend changed--the highest caries incidence level was observed in the molars of the lower jaw, followed by the incisors of the upper jaw.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results enhance the knowledge of early childhood caries. The data can be used to design preventive programs and develop methods for caries treatment targeting children of these age groups.
authors.affiliation: Higher Medical Institute, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, 24 Veliko Tarnovo St., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dimitrova
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kukleva
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Kondeva
mesh_terms: D002031:Bulgaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D007223:Infant; D007568:Jaw / Q000473:pathology; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology*