title: Effect of non-functional teeth on accumulation of supra-gingival calculus in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the occurrence of supra-gingival calculus in children aged 6-9 years with disuse conditions such as: presence of dental pain, open-bite or erupting teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 327 children aged 7.64±2.12 (range: 6-9) years (45% girls) were screened for presence of supra-gingival calculus in relation to open bite, erupting teeth and dental pain. Presence of dental calculus was evaluated dichotomically in the buccal, palatinal/lingual and occlusal surfaces. Plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Supra-gingival calculus was found in 15.9% of the children mainly in the mandibular incisors. Children aged 6-7 years had a higher prevalence of calculus as compared to children aged 7-8 years (23% vs. 13.5%, p=0.057) or 8-9 years (23% vs. 12.4%, p=0.078), respectively. No statistical relation was found between plaque and gingival indices and presence of calculus. The prevalence of calculus among children with openbite was significantly higher than that of children without open-bite (29.4% vs. 10.7%, p=0.0006, OR=3.489). The prevalence of calculus among children with erupting teeth in their oral cavity was higher than that of children without erupting teeth (17.7% vs. 9%, respectively, p=0.119). No statistical correlation was found between presence of dental pain and calculus (15.4% vs. 15.9%; p=0.738).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accumulation of calculus in children aged 6-10 years was found mainly in the mandibular incisors, decreased with age and was correlated with open-bite.
authors.affiliation: malka.ashkenazi@gmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashkenazi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000145:classification*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D024343:Open Bite / Q000150:complications; D010512:Periodontal Index; D014070:Tooth / Q000473:pathology*; D014078:Tooth Eruption / Q000502:physiology; D014098:Toothache / Q000150:complications