The time employed for care of permanent teeth in children and adolescents

Data were compiled from the records of dental care given to 199 patients from 6 to 19 years of age. The restorative treatment of permanent teeth, including the time for examinations, radiographs and final polishing, accounted for 74% of the total time employed for dental care. It was especially noted that the youths with a caries prevalence of 25 or more filled surfaces at 19 years of age, constituting 24% of the patients, accounted for 65% of the number of filled proximal surfaces and 45% of all filled surfaces, while 38% of the time needed for restorative dentistry and 40% of the time used for individual prophylaxis was associated with this group. This study emphasizes the importance of early identification of the children at high risk for caries so as to provide appropriate preventive therapy.