One-year changes in early carious lesions on the occlusal surface of first molars measured by the QLF method

Abstract

We investigated changes in the S. mutans level and progression of early dental caries on the occlusal surface of first molars of 19 elementary school children over one year. The progression of early caries was measured by the quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) method. QLF analysis revealed that the progression over one year of early carious lesions in the first molars was faster in the mandible than in the maxilla. However, when the initial early caries level was greater, the progression level of tooth decay was faster in the maxilla. The tendency for change in the ΔQ level for each variole of the occlusal fissure of first molars showed that each variole did not have a constant change in half of the subjects. Moreover, as the S. mutans level increased during the year, the results of QLF analysis also progressed. We concluded that we should examine the fissures of the occlusal surfaces in detail for the S. mutans level during oral examinations.