Caries experience of the first permanent molars in a sample group of children treated in a specialized department

Aim. To evaluate the caries experience of the first permanent molars (FPM) in a sample group treated in the Pedodontics Department of “Carol Davila” University. Material and methods. Cross-sectional study on 100 pacients: 50 girls and 50 boys, mean age 7,4±1,1 years. There were calculated: the number of erupted FPM; the odontal status of FPM examined: sound, stained, simple and complicated caries; caries experience indices; caries distribution on FPM according to the topography and the affected tooth; the percentage of sound FPM sealed and the treatment distribution on stained and decayed FPM. Results. 99,5% of FPM were erupted at the examination moment; 48,74% FPM were sound, 15,6% were stained and 35,67% had simple and complicated decays. The DMFT/DMFS values were: boys: 1,35±0,77/1,74±0,96; girls: 1,2±0,45/1,5±0,78. 78,87% of FPM had caries on the occlusal surface. The lower FPM were more affected than the upper FPM: 55% vs. 45%. Most FPM had simple caries – 94,4%, the other 5,6% being complicated caries. 27,31% of the sound FPM were sealed. 67,74% stained FPM were treated. Only half (56,33%) of the decayed FPM were treated. Conclusions. Most FPM were erupted in the examination day. One third of the FPM already had caries, most of them being located on the occlusal surface of the lower FPM. Most of them were simple caries. Only a quarter of the sound FPM were sealed.