Frequency and distribution of early tooth loss and endodontic treatment needs of permanent first molars in a Turkish pediatric population

Assessment of Permanent First Molars in Children Aged 7 to 10 Years Old

Background: Dental caries is a chronic, infectious and preventable disease that is very common around the world. It has been observed that dental caries affect not only the majority of adults but also 60% to 90% of children. Permanent first molars (PFM) are the most commonly decayed teeth observed in children. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the decayed, missing filled teeth (DMFT) scores of PFMs in the early post-eruptive stage, within the scope of the United Nations Agenda for 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, thereby raising awareness for the prevention and treatment of permanent tooth decay. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in Erzurum between the years 2015−2016 by collecting data from children aged 7−10 years (17,208). In addition to the decayed, filled and missing data of the students’ 6-year-molars, their ages, genders, frequencies of both tooth brushing and dental office visits were evaluated. The relationship between the variables was analyzed with chi-square. Result: The present study analyzed the data of a total of 11,457 children, 5704 girls and 5753 boys with a mean age of 8.74 ± 1.18. There was a statistically significant difference between the PFMs 16, 26, 36 and 46 regarding the number of healthy, decayed, missing and restored teeth (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of caries in the PFMs of children aged 7−10 years was 15.9% and the mean DMFT was 0.79 ± 1.39. This result showed that PFMs might develop carious lesions and even be lost within three years in the early post-eruptive stage.

Investigation of the Radiological Status of Permanent First Molars in a Turkish Subpopulation

Objective: Missing or filled first permanent molars (FPMs) affects occlusal status and oral health. This study aims to determine the prevalence of missing, restored FPMs (filling, root canal treatment, prosthetic restoration), and dental implants in the first molar region. Methods: In our study, panoramic radiographs of 1765 female and 1230 male patients were evaluated. Patients were divided into three age groups: 15-34 years old, 35-54 years old, and >55 years old. The maxillary and mandibular FPMs status is divided into two groups presence (caries, filled, root treatment, prosthetic restoration, root treatment + prosthetic restoration, and healthy) or absence (empty, radix relicta, dental implant, and dental bridge). Results: In the evaluated images, 36.92% of maxillary FPMs and 27.39% of mandibular FPMs were healthy. FPMs on the right or left side of the jaws did not affect their clinical status, while their presence on the lower or upper jaw affected their clinical status. Conclusion: Most of the FPMs (67.85%) were with caries or restorations. The number of healthy FPMs decreases with increasing age. The study indicates an important result regarding protecting FPMs and preventive dentistry.

Survival of endodontically treated permanent teeth among children: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Outcome studies of nonsurgical root canal treatment (NSRCT) in permanent teeth of children are scarce. This study investigated survival and assessed the variables associated with failure of endodontically treated teeth (ETT) in 6- to 18-year-olds.

Methods

Records of subjects who received NSRCT at age 6–18 years at Boston University between 2007 and 2015 were assessed for the occurrence of untoward events. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to investigate the survival of ETT in the total sample. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated.

Results

The analysis included 341 patients (424 ETT). Kaplan–Meier survival curves differed according to age at treatment (log-rank P = 0.026), with survival being the lowest among the youngest age group. The estimated 5-year survival probability was 80% for 15- to 18-year-olds, 64.8% for 12- to 14-year-olds and 46.4% for 6- to 11-year-olds. Compared to age at treatment of 15–18 years, age at treatment of 6–11 years (aHR: 2.19, 95% CI 1.02–4.67) and 12–14 years (aHR: 2.02, 95% CI 1.15–3.55) was associated with an increased risk of ETT failure. In the total study sample, the estimated cumulative survival probability was 93.3% at 12 months, 88.0% at 24 months, 76.2% at 36 months, 71.0% at 48 months, and 69.1% at 60 months.

Conclusions

In children, ETT are more likely to survive when NSRCTs are performed at an older age.

Prevalence of Missing First Permanent Molars in a Selected Population in a University Dental Clinic Setting: A Retrospective Radiographic Study

Aim and objective

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of missing first permanent molars (FPMs) in the 7–29-year-old selected population of Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

Materials and methods

This study retrospectively analyzed 398 panoramic radiographs of patients aged from 7 to 29 years old for missing FPM. Patients were divided into two age-groups: 7–15 and 16–29 years old. Study variables including gender, age, missing FPM, dental arch, and right or left sides of the arch were recorded. The data were statistically analyzed using Chi-square tests.

Results

Of the total study sample, 23.1% of patients had only one missing FPM, 13.3% of patients had two, and 2.8% of them had three missing FPM teeth. No patient had four missing FPM teeth. A total of 60.8% (242) radiographs in the overall sample did not show any missing teeth. The mandibular FPMs (35.2%) were found missing more frequently than their maxillary counterparts (17.4%) and the left mandibular quadrant showed a higher rate of missing FPM (21.9%). No statistically significant association was seen between the missing FPM and the gender or age-group (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The high prevalence rates of missing FPM in the study population warrants attention. Further prospective studies are needed to comprehensively evaluate the effect of early loss of the FPM on space changes in the arch and subsequent reduction in complex orthodontic treatment needs.

How to cite this article

Almugla YM. Prevalence of Missing First Permanent Molars in a Selected Population in a University Dental Clinic Setting: A Retrospective Radiographic Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(2):269–272.

Children's dental treatment requirements of first permanent molars with poor prognosis

OBJECTIVES

This retrospective study aimed to (i) survey the correlation between decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT), and presence of first permanent molars (FPMs) with poor prognosis and (ii) evaluate the treatment requirements.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seven hundred seventy-three children with fully erupted FPMs were included in this study. DMFT for the permanent dentition, FPMs, and Global DMFT were evaluated based on clinical and radiographic evaluation. The ratio of deep dentin caries (DDC) and apical lesion presence among FPMs, including treatment requirements, were analysed. Spearman rank correlation coefficient and t tests were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The caries prevalence was found at 61.4%, where the mean DMFT was calculated as 1.89 ± 2.15. There was a positive correlation between DMFT values and age (r_s = 0.27). On the other hand, there was a negative correlation between global DMFT values and age (r_s =  - 0.29). Regarding treatment needs of FPM with poor prognosis, 12.03% of the teeth needed pulpectomy, 8.93% pulpotomy, 8.93% pulp capping, and 5.3% extraction. Having higher DMFT values was correlated significantly (p < 0.01) with the presence of DDC (r_s = 0.50) and apical lesion (r_s = 0.34). Susceptibility to DDC and apical lesions was significantly higher at mandible than maxilla (p < 0.01). The correlation was significant between DMFT values and apical lesion presence (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The ratio of FPMs with poor prognosis was found high in the study group. Treatment requirements of FPMs increased with age, and pulp interventions often took part in the majority. This study successfully concluded that higher DMFT values were correlated with the presence of DDC and apical lesion.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

FPMs with poor prognosis demonstrate a risk factor for apical lesion presence.

Dentition status and treatment needs of human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients on anti retro viral therapy in Raichur taluk, Karnataka, India: A cross sectional study

Objective:

The aim of the study was to assess the dentition status and the treatment needs of the HIV-positive patients on ART for more than a year in Raichur, Karnataka.

Materials and Methods:

Convenience sampling was followed. The sample size was 170. The dentition status and treatment needs of the patients were recorded as per the WHO guidelines.

Results:

The overall prevalence of dental caries was 79.4%. Males had higher percentage of dental caries than the females, and this was found to be statistically significant. The prevalence of dental caries was higher among the participants who used finger to clean their teeth compared to the toothbrush, neem stick, and charcoal users, and this was found to be statistically significant.

Conclusion:

Higher prevalence of dental caries was observed among the study population. Most of them required some type of treatment. Patients with a low CD4 count required higher treatments than the others.

A study of dentists' preferences for the restoration of shortened dental arches with partial dentures

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to use a utility method in order to assess dentists' preferences for the restoration of shortened dental arches (SDAs) with partial dentures. Also, the impact of patient age and length of the SDA on dentists' preferences for the partial dentures was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Totally, 104 subjects holding a basic degree in dentistry and working as staff members in a private dental college in Saudi Arabia were interviewed and presented with 12 scenarios for patients of different ages and mandibular SDAs of varying length. Participants were asked to indicate on a standardized visual analog scale how they would value the health of the patient's mouth if the mandibular SDAs were restored with cobalt-chromium removable partial dentures (RPDs).

RESULTS

With a utility value of 0.0 representing the worst possible health state for a mouth and 1.0 representing the best, dentists' average utility value of the RPD for the SDAs was 0.49 (sd= 0.15). Mean utility scores of the RPDs across the 12 SDA scenarios ranged between 0.35 and 0.61. RPDs that restored the extremely SDAs attracted the highest utility values and dentists' utility of the RPD significantly increased with the increase in the number of missing posterior teeth. No significant differences in dentists' mean utility values for the RPD were identified among SDA scenarios for patients of different ages.

CONCLUSION

Restoration of the mandibular SDAs by RPDs is not a highly preferred treatment option among the surveyed group of dentists. Length of the SDA affects dentists' preferences for the RPD, but patient age does not.

The evaluation of developmental enamel defects and dental treatment conditions in a group of Turkish children with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine developmental enamel defects and dental treatment conditions in children with congenital heart disease by comparing them with a control group of healthy children.

METHODS

Children included in the study were referred to a paediatric dentistry for dental examination and treatment after undergoing routine examination in a paediatric clinic.

RESULTS

The congenital heart disease group included 72 children and the control group included 56 healthy children. Children in the age group of 3-14 years were included in this study. The mean age of the congenital heart disease group and control group was 6.24±2.85 and 6.73±3.01, respectively. The mean values of the decayed, missing, and filled indices for primary and permanent teeth in the congenital heart disease group were 2.80±3.77 and 0.81±1.63, respectively. In the control group, the values were 1.87±3.31 and 0.72±1.46, respectively. The care score for primary teeth was 3.6% in the congenital heart disease group and 13.3% in the control group. The enamel defect was detected in at least one permanent tooth in seven out of 72 children (9.7%) in the congenital heart disease group and in three out of 56 children (5.3%) in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Although there was no significant difference in the development of dental caries or the prevalence of enamel defects between children with congenital heart disease and healthy children, the care score was low in children with congenital heart disease. In addition, children with congenital heart disease had a higher rate of pulled primary teeth and delayed treatment of decayed teeth.