title: Caries experience in the permanent dentition among first- and second-grade schoolchildren in southeastern Estonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to assess the caries experience among first- and second-grade children in the elementary schools of southeastern Estonia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample of 485 children was studied. The mean age of children in the first grade was 7.8 years (SD = 0.35) and in the second grade 8.8 years (0.38). The clinical examinations using ICDAS criteria were completed by four calibrated examiners. The inter- and intra-examiner consistency of the examiners was high (surface and tooth-based kappa >0.9).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean caries experience of dentinal caries lesions was 0.8 (D 4-6 MFT) and 1.6 (D 4-6 MFS) among the first graders and 1.1 (D 4-6 MFT) and 1.6 (D 4-6 MFS) among the second graders. The mean caries enamel lesions among the first graders was 1.6 (D1-3T) and 2.2 (D1-3S) and among the second graders 2.1 and 3.0, respectively. The most affected surfaces were the occlusal surfaces of the lower first molars. The prevalence of sealants was very low-only 2.4% of the first molars were sealed among the first graders and 3.9% among the second graders. There were no statistically significant differences in caries experience or in the provision of restorative treatment between the schools.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caries experience is high in southeastern Estonia. Preventive programs are urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. riina.runnel@ut.ee
authors.forename: Riina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Runnel
authors.forename: Sisko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honkala
authors.forename: Eino
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Honkala
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olak
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nõmmela
authors.forename: Tero
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vahlberg
authors.forename: Kauko K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: Mare
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saag
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male