Caries development in a young population managed by a restrictive attitude to radiography and operative intervention: I. A study at the patient level.
OBJECTIVE
To assess, in a young population (age 6-19) managed by a restrictive attitude to radiography and operative intervention, prevalence of patients with posterior caries and/or fillings, probabilities of new proximal dentine lesions given different caries experience, correlation between radiographic intervals and caries experience, and prevalence of endodontic treatment.


METHODS
Bitewing radiographs, taken between age 6 through 19 in 285 patients, were analysed in succession. Occlusal and proximal surfaces were coded for caries depth (0-4) and presence of fillings (5). Simple regression analysis was used to determine relations between radiographic intervals and caries experience. Significance testings of probability estimates were made with chi(2)- and t-tests, when applicable adjusted by the Bonferroni-Holm correction for mass-significance.


RESULTS
The prevalence of patients with >/ or =1 fillings/dentine lesions in occlusal surfaces increased from 6-78% and in proximal ones from 1-38%. The probability of developing new proximal dentine lesions/fillings over different time periods was significantly lower among caries-free patients than among those with enamel or dentine lesions. There was a poor correlation between radiographic intervals (mean=16 months, range=6-33) and accumulated caries experience. Endodontic treatment had been made in a total of six teeth in six patients.


CONCLUSIONS
A restrictive attitude both to the frequency with which radiographs are taken and to operative treatment of proximal caries seems to be possible in young populations with low caries prevalence.
Lith
A
A
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Sweden. lith@odontologi.gu.se
Lindstrand
C
C
Gröndahl
H-G
HG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001641:Bicuspid; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008963:Molar; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology