Relative prevalence of caries in first and second premolars in urban Nigerians

The objective of this study was to determine the relative prevalence of caries in first and second premolars as well as maxillo-mandibulo-quadrant distribution of caries among the premolars. It was also aimed at comparing the patterns of caries distribution in first and second premolars with those of the first and second permanent molars based on previous studies. The treatment records of patients who attended the conservation clinic at the Department of Restorative Dentistry, Lagos University Teaching Hospital/College of Medicine of the University of Lagos from 1991-1995 were scrutinised; and all first and second premolars that were diagnosed and treated for caries were charted. This study showed that the second premolars were more prone to caries attack than the first premolars irrespective of the jaws involved. The difference in the degree of vulnerability to caries attack between first and second premolars was also statistically significant P < 0.05. It also showed that there was a relative variation in maxillo-mandibulo-quadrant distribution of caries with a relatively higher prevalence on the right sides as compared with the left sides of both jaws as well as a greater occurrence in the upper jaw as compared with the lower jaw. The difference in relative occurrence of caries between the right and left sides of both jaws as well as the difference in relative caries occurrence between the maxillary and mandibular premolars were also statistically significant P < 0.05 using Chi-square test.