The relationship between caries in the primary dentition at 5 years of age and permanent dentition at 10 years of age - a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore a possible relationship between the caries experience and pattern in the primary dentition at 5 years of age and the permanent dentition at 10 years of age. Further, to examine the possibility of predicting children in a caries-risk group at 5 years verified at 10 years of age.


METHODS
A sample of 186 children (90 males) were clinically examined as 5-year-olds and re-examined as 10-year-olds by calibrated dentists. A five-graded diagnostic system including enamel caries was used. Bitewing radiographs were taken. A true risk group of children at 10 years were defined as those with at least one dentin or filled lesion on the mesial surface of 6-year molars, and/or on incisors, and/or total DMFS (decayed, missing, and filled surfaces) more than 1 SD above the mean. The prediction was measured in terms of OR (odds ratio), sensitivity/specificity, and receiver operating characteristic curves.


RESULTS
Statistically significant correlations (r=0.5) were found between the caries experience in the two dentitions as well as between the primary second molars at baseline and the permanent teeth at 10 years. 'Primary second molars' and 'all primary molars' were the most powerful predictors for allocation into the risk group (24% of the sample). The highest achieved sum of sensitivity and specificity, 148%, was attained at a cut-off point above two carious surfaces in enamel and/or dentin in primary second molars.


CONCLUSIONS
Statistically significant relationship in disease between the dentitions was found. More than two surfaces with caries experience in primary second molars are suggested as a clinically useful predictor at 5 years of age for being at high risk at age 10.
Skeie
M S
MS
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. marit.skie@odont.uib.no
Raadal
M
M
Strand
G V
GV
Espelid
I
I
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014070:Tooth / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*