title: Dental treatment needs of permanent first molars in mashhad schoolchildren.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In spite of their enormous importance, permanent first molars might be affected by caries in children in developing countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment needs of first permanent molars in a group of schoolchildren in Mashhad.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on 700, 7-9 year-old students in primary schools in Mashhad. The schools were randomly selected from each district. Treatment needs and DMFT of first perma-nent molars were calculated. Data was analyzed using ANOVA, Chi-Square and t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 95.3% of the children required dental treatment. Fissure sealant application and filling were the treat-ments most required in all age groups. The mean DMFT of first permanent molars was 1.31±1.4. It was significantly higher in girls than boys (P=0.040).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Great treatment needs and caries prevalence in permanent first molars in Mashhad schoolchildren show that dental caries is still a serious problem in the children of our society; therefore, education of parents and teachers is necessary for promoting children's oral health.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
authors.forename: Behjat-Al-Molook
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Ajami
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sarraf Shirazi
authors.forename: Monavar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afzal Aghaee
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rashidi