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Permanent first molar eruption and caries patterns in A merican I ndian and A laska N ative children: challenging the concept of targeting second grade for school‐based sealant programs
Author(s) -
Phipps Kathy R.,
Ricks Timothy L.,
Blahut Patrick
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of public health dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1752-7325
pISSN - 0022-4006
DOI - 10.1111/jphd.12011
Subject(s) - molar , medicine , dentistry , crown (dentistry)
Objective To describe first permanent molar eruption and caries patterns among A merican I ndian and A laska N ative ( AI / AN ) children in order to identify the appropriate target grade for school‐based sealant programs. Methods We used data from the 2011‐2012 I ndian H ealth S ervice oral health surveillance survey of AI / AN children in kindergarten through third grade. Children were screened by trained examiners. Cavitated lesions were classified as decayed, and teeth with any portion of the crown exposed were considered erupted. Results We screened 15,611 AI / AN children in 186 schools. The percentage with four erupted first molars was 27 percent of kindergarten, 76 percent of first, 96 percent of second, and 99 percent of third‐grade children. About 7 percent of kindergarteners had decayed, missing, or filled molars compared with 20 percent, 30 percent, and 38 percent of first, second, and third graders, respectively. Conclusion School‐based sealant programs for AI / AN children should target kindergarten and first grade with follow‐up programs for second‐grade children.