2001 Volume 29 Issue 1 Pages 24-28
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental caries in orthodontic patients and to evaluate the preventive effect on caries development after introducing the examination method for saliva and cariogenic bacteria. The subjects were 266 patients (mean age, 12.9years) who had received orthodontic treatment in Kumazawa Dental Clinic from 1992 to 1999. We examined five items and the following results were obtained : 1. The percentage of dental caries each year between 1992 and 1997 was 10-15 % , but the percentage decreased to 8.5% in 1999. 2. The number of decayed teeth per patient in one year was 0.20-0.32, 28-44 % of the number in the general population. 3. The highest number of decayed teeth was in 14-year-old patients. In the general population, the highest number of decayed teeth is in 14-year-old children, too. 4. The highest number of dental caries was in maxillary and mandibular molars, followed by maxillary incisors. The rate of dental caries in maxillary lateral incisors in orthodontic patients was more than that in the general population. 5. The highest prevalence of dental caries was in patients wearing multibracket appliances. These results suggest that some characteristics in occurring dental caries in orthodontic patients, although the prevalence in of dental caries in orthodontic patients is lower than that in general population.
