[Calculus accumulation on tooth surface in children]

The project was designed to study the accumulation of calculus on the tooth surface in school children. One hundred and twenty two 10-15 years of age school children in both sexes were participated in the study. They were evaluated by a dentist for the presence and quantity of calculus deposits on the labial and lingual surfaces of the lower six anterior teeth using Volpe-Manhold calculus scoring method. The subjects were divided into three groups according to their calculus scores as "slight" (10-25 mm.) "moderate" (26-40 mm.) and "heavy" (greater than 40 mm.). Then all subjects received a complete oral prophylaxis, including the removal of all subgingival and supragingival deposits. At six months and twelve months after oral prophylaxis all subjects were evaluated for the calculus deposition by the same dentist. The results revealed that redeposit of calculus at six and twelve months of the three groups were statistically different (p less than 0.05). The "slight" calculus group had the calculus deposit, after oral prophylaxis, less than the "moderate" and the "heavy" group. The "heavy" group had the calculus deposit much more than the "moderate" group.