Nine–year cohort study to predict caries in permanent teeth from caries in primary teeth in the same individuals

الملخص EN

Background : Prevalence and severity of dental caries vary in different populations and fluctuate with time.

Past caries experience is probably the most common used factor in the assessment of caries risk.

The aim of this study was to determine whether caries status of the primary dentition can be used to predict caries in the permanent dentition.

Materials and methods : A sample of 128 kindergarten children of 4-5 years old were examined for primary teeth caries experience in the baseline study based on WHO criteria, then re-examined after 8 years to assess the caries experience in permanent teeth.

Results : Statistically significant associations were observed between the caries experience in primary and permanent teeth by using different indicators.

The sensitivity was found to be higher than specificity, while positive and negative predictive values were 81 % and 66 % respectively.

Conclusion : The primary teeth caries experience play an important role in predicting permanent teeth caries.

More attention was suggested to be paid to the children with more primary teeth decayed.