ABSTRACT
This study set out to determine the average patient's age at initial detection of interproximal caries for individual posterior tooth surfaces. Ninety-six patients between the ages of 2 and 14 years were followed longitudinally over a series of periodic oral examinations. The average patient's age at initial detection of interproximal caries ranged from 6.3 years for the maxillary primary canine to 11.7 years for the mandibular permanent first molar. Peaks in patient's age at initial detection of interproximal caries occurred between ages 6 and 8 for primary teeth--peaks that should be considered in establishing the timing and frequency of bitewing radiographs for children.
Subject(s)
Dental Caries/diagnosis , Adolescent , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Dental Caries/epidemiology , Dental Caries/pathology , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Retrospective Studies , Risk FactorsSubject(s)
Dental Caries/diagnostic imaging , Dental Health Surveys , Oral Hygiene Index , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Methods , Radiography , Tooth/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
Pediatricians and family physicians can play a significant role in the initiation of dental care for preschool children because they are seen more often by a physician than a dentist. The Committee on Standards for Child Health Care of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends inspection of the mouth, teeth, and gums at every pediatric visit. This article describes the oral tissues in health and in disease as well as the role physicians can play in preventive dental care.
Subject(s)
Oral Health , Child, Preschool , Dental Caries/diagnosis , Dental Caries/prevention & control , Dental Occlusion , Humans , Infant , Mouth Diseases/diagnosis , Pediatrics , Periodontal Diseases/etiology , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
One area of particular concern, on behalf of the pediatric dental patient, is the routine use of low doses of ionizing radiation in the form of bitewing radiographs at semi-annual examinations. Patients at high-risk for interproximal caries should receive bitewing examinations at the first clinical evidence of caries. The use of pit and fissure caries as a criterion for determining relative interproximal caries risk may not be reliable in fluoridated communities.
Subject(s)
Dental Caries/diagnostic imaging , Dental Enamel/pathology , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Dental Caries/etiology , Dental Caries/pathology , Dental Enamel/diagnostic imaging , Dental Restoration, Permanent , Dentition, Mixed , Humans , Radiography , Risk , Tooth, Deciduous/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
With 1,153 pairs of bitewing radiographs representing data collected from 145 patients, we determined that the average positive bitewing interval was 17.7 months, which is consistent with published recommendations of 12- to 24-month intervals.
