Clinical status and assessment of caries on first permanent molars in a group of 6‐ to 13‐year‐old Tunisian school children

Abstract

Abstract Aim The present survey aimed to highlight the clinical status of first permanent molars (FPMs) among a group of children aged between 6 and 13 years in public primary schools in Tunisia and to determine the association between FPMs' dental caries, gingival bleeding, malocclusion, dental fluorosis, and enamel defects. Materials and Methods The survey involved a cross‐sectional study based on a dental examination conducted in public primary schools in Monastir Tunisia. A dental caries assessment was performed on FPMs using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System classification; the number of carious lesions in permanent and temporary dentition was established using the decayed/missing/filled teeth (DMFT) index. The Gingival Index and the Dental Aesthetic Index were used to determine the occurrence of gingival bleeding and malocclusions. Dean's index and the modified Development Defects of Enamel index were used to define the enamel defects. The χ2 test was used to assess the difference between more than two groups, and the level of statistical significance was set at .05%. Results A total of 545 children and 2080 FPMs were examined. The prevalence of dental caries in FPMs was recorded to be 35.8%. The overall mean DMFT index of the study population was 1.62 and the mean DMFT index was 1.41. The proportion of carious FPMs increased significantly with the age of the children (p .05). Conclusion Although the prevalence of caries in FPMs was considered moderate, health promotion programs should be implemented on a large scale to decrease the prevalence of dental caries among school children.

Keywords

• dental caries
• enamel defects
• first permanent molar
• Gingivits