title: Longitudinal study of caries progression in 2- and 3-year-old German children.
abstract: This 2-year longitudinal study in 2- and 3-year-old kindergarten children investigated lesion progression on different surfaces of primary teeth.
  
  
  
  The study was conducted between September 2008 and September 2010 on a sample of 400 children from the Kyffhäuser district (Thuringia, Germany). A calibrated investigator recorded (non)cavitated caries lesions according to World Health Organization (WHO), International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) and Universal Visual Scoring System (UniViSS) criteria. Nonparametric methods and linear regression using a mixed-effects model with an unbalanced design were used for data analysis.
  
  
  
  There was a significant increase in the prevalence of noncavitated caries lesions during the 2-year period, with the highest chance for change on all surfaces compared to cavitated lesions. First visible sign lesions on occlusal surfaces had the highest chance for change (estimate 0.38), whereas established lesions revealed the highest chance for change on proximal (estimate 1.05) and smooth surfaces (estimate 0.62). Proximal lesions exhibited the greatest chance for change irrespective of severity level.
  
  
  
  Our study demonstrated that each type of carious lesion had different changing rates. Greater lesion severity correlated with greater chances to change and receive treatment. This information is crucial for dental practitioners in decision-making processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pitchika
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Paediatric Dentistry, University Hospital of Jena, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kokel
authors.affiliation: Health Centre of Kyffhäuser District, Sondershausen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andreeva
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crispin
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hickel
authors.affiliation: Bioscience Research Center, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcia-Godoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kühnisch
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Paediatric Dentistry, University Hospital of Jena, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Roswitha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heinrich-Weltzien
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: caries progression; dental caries; epidemiology; longitudinal study; noncavitated caries lesions