Abstract
We conducted a follow-up study of proximal caries in 232 permanent teeth of 82 patients who visited the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Iwate Medical University for 6 years (during the period of 1995-2000). Based on the direct examination the patients were found to have no decayed hard tissues but caries were found using the bite wing x-ray. Moreover, thirty-four teeth of 23 patients who visited the hospital in 2000 were studied to examine the background for the progression of caries, using the caries activity test, salivary test, contents of teatime snacks, the condition of oral hygiene and number of teeth experiencing caries. The results obtained were as follows:
1) As for the type of teeth, the mandibular second premolar was the most frequently decayed, followed by the maxillary second premolars, and the maxillary and mandibular first molars.
2) As for the number of cases at the different ages, the incidence of caries was increased from 9- to 18-year-olds. The most frequent age to develop caries was at the ages of 14 and 15.
3) The age when discoloration of teeth was found was the adolescent period, and bite wing x-rays were frequently taken.
4) For carious teeth with more or less than 1/2 of the enamel indicated by x-ray, most teeth were under periodical observation. Thirty-eight point eight percent of the teeth which developed caries with less than 1/2 of the dentin were under periodical observation. All of the teeth with caries more than 1/2 of the dentin finally underwent caries treatment.
5) The reason proximal caries were found frequently for the premolars, may be due to patients having some problems in school life, club activities or had been mentally unstable in their adolescent period; as well as poor self-cleaning in the proximal area of premolars due to the pressure from posterior molars. We emphasize that it is important to reexamine the enamel caries in the proximal area and the prevention of proximal caries of the children in the adolescent period.
