Résumé
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to understand the dental caries pattern in permanent dentition among Korean adolescents aged 12-16 years. METHODS: This study comprised 5,301 teenagers, aged 12-16 years. We analyzed the dental caries pattern in patients with permanent dentition using data from the 2006 Korean National Oral Health Survey. The methods used for data analysis included frequency analysis, correlation analysis, cluster analysis, and multidimensional scaling (MDS). RESULTS: With cluster analysis, it was difficult to clearly distinguish between anterior and posterior caries, and categorization was difficult owing to the mandibular first premolar and maxillary lateral incisor. The molars had severe caries, and results of the cluster analysis categorized this as clusters independent from other teeth; therefore, efforts must be made to prevent dental caries in molars. The maxillary premolars had the highest incidence of caries followed by the molars, and accordingly, these formed independent clusters, with the exception of the molar. During the eruption stage, despite the secondary premolar erupting later than the first premolar, there was a higher caries incidence in the secondary premolar. Out of the anterior teeth, the maxillary later incisor had the highest incidence of caries and formed an independent cluster. The multidimensional scaling (MDS) results clearly showed the molar teeth cluster. CONCLUSIONS: For epidemiological research on dental caries, a caries pattern analysis should be conducted, and information on the caries pattern in permanent dentition can be used for the prevention and management of dental caries.