Impact of caries experience in the deciduous molars on the emergence of the successors.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of caries experience in a primary molar (decayed and/or restored vs. extracted) on the timing of emergence of its successor. Data were obtained from a longitudinal epidemiological study in a sample of 4468 Flemish children. Survival analyses with log-logistic distribution were performed to calculate median emergence ages and 95% confidence intervals (CI); caries experience was added as a covariate. The results indicate that the emergence of the maxillary and mandibular premolars was accelerated by 2-8 months when its predecessor had been decayed and or restored but had not been extracted. Premature loss of maxillary primary molars resulted in a significant acceleration of the emergence of the premolars; this was not observed in the mandible. In conclusion, when considering permanent tooth emergence ages, caries experience in the primary dentition should be taken into account.
Leroy
Roos
R
Catholic University Leuven, School of Dentistry, Oral Pathology and Maxillofacial Surgery and Biostatistical Centre, Leuven, Belgium. roos.leroy@med.kuleuven.ac.be
Bogaerts
Kris
K
Lesaffre
Emmanuel
E
Declerck
Dominique
D
D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D014078:Tooth Eruption; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous