RESUMO
AIM: To evaluate the correlation between age and caries development in permanent teeth, as well as to show the trends of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index in Albania. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subsequent observations hold from July 2016-July 2018. Our study included 393 children of the age range of 7-10 years old. The children in the survey were divided into four groups according to their ages 7, 8, 9 and 10 years and these groups were considered separately. For the age group 7 years old we observed 110 children (28.13%), for the age group 8 years old we observed 106 children (27.11%), while for the age groups 9 years and 10 years old we observed 88 (22.35%) and 89 (22.41%) children, respectively. RESULTS: In our study, 393 children were selected and a total of 3128 molars were observed during 2 years time period. The strong influence on caries of the age group 9-10 years old is confirmed by p value 0.002. The results of our study show that the influence in caries manifestation decreases more at the age of 8-9 years old with a p = 0.014. Caries prevalence was 28.3% in permanent dentition in children 7-10 years old, while the DMFT index of our results was 3.46. CONCLUSION: Our results showed a prevalence of carious teeth at the age group 9-10 years old compared with the age group 8-9 years old. To reduce dental caries development and its increment in children of the age class 7-10 years old we recommend the use of fluoride, a healthy non-cariogenic diet, and dental routine check-ups. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Age has an important role in evaluating caries prevalence and DMFT index. Based on age, caries is more prevalent in children 9-10 years old, and the DMFT index resulted to be in high values equal to 3.46.