Aim
Evaluate the longitudinal status of dental caries in the occlusal surface of first permanent molars (FPM) and to identify risk factors for the progression to cavitated caries lesions in a school oral health program.
Methods
Children who were enrolled in the program between September 2017 and October 2019, 5 to 10 years-old, presenting the four FPM were included. Four calibrated examiners assessed dental caries according to Nyvad criteria. Descriptive analysis included frequency, mean, and standard deviation calculations. Chi-square test was used in the bivariate analysis and, logistic regression adjusted for cluster effect was used to identify significant risk factors for cavity among the following independent variables: gender, age in the baseline, deft, upper/lower molar, initial caries score, Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH), fluorosis, occlusal sealing. Odds ratio (OR) and respective confidence intervals (CI) are presented.
Results
From 174 children enrolled in the program between 2017/2019, 120 were reevaluated in 2022. Eleven (2.6%) FPM in 11 children (9.2%) presented cavitated caries in the follow up examination. Significant risk factors for cavity were caries experience in the primary teeth (OR = 5.59; CI: 1.4 – 22.3) and the presence of MIH (OR = 5.33; CI: 1.6 – 18.1). Most of the active lesions in the follow up were considered active in the baseline examination.
Conclusions
The progression to cavity was relatively low, significantly influenced by past caries experience and MIH.
Keywords
Dental caries; Molar; Molar hypomineralization
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