Patient's age at the initial detection of interproximal caries

This study set out to determine the average patient's age at initial detection of interproximal caries for individual posterior tooth surfaces. Ninety-six patients between the ages of 2 and 14 years were followed longitudinally over a series of periodic oral examinations. The average patient's age at initial detection of interproximal caries ranged from 6.3 years for the maxillary primary canine to 11.7 years for the mandibular permanent first molar. Peaks in patient's age at initial detection of interproximal caries occurred between ages 6 and 8 for primary teeth--peaks that should be considered in establishing the timing and frequency of bitewing radiographs for children.