Abstract
The purpose of this study was to discover the changes over a period of time in the priodontium (gingiva) of children. Field work was conducted by courses in pediatric dentistry at thirteen universities and a total of 6,114 children, ranging in age from 1.5,3,6,9, and twelve years. The study was performed based on unified standards.
The areas of observation, taking into consideration examination of the children, included the mesial and distal gingival margin on the deciduous and permanent central incisor and canine, the labial and lingual side gingival margin, and the interdental papila of the median, making for three areas in all, (to discover change in the gingiva and the epidemiological bite).
The following results were obtained from the field study.
1. The prevcalence of gingivitis at 1.5 years was already 31.9%.
2. After that, there was an increase in gingivitis by degrees, but a slight symptom, a correlation between dental plaque and gingivitis was not clearly seen in younger children.
3. The relationship between the dental plaque in young children and adults shows differences. It is thought that this is due to resistance to dental plaque as well as a weakness in the origin of the plaque.
4. A change for the worse is found in children 6 years old and around 12 years of age a setting of the dental calculus is found, making for the foundation of the form of periodontitis found in adults. More is needed, however, to improve methods of examination and finding of references in young children.
