Longitudinal study of dental caries development in Dutch children aged 8-12 years

In many Western societies caries experience in children has decreased substantially in areas both with and without organized preventive programs or water fluoridation. In the majority of studies reporting declining caries activity, cross-sectional data of the same age groups are compared. The purpose of the present study is to provide longitudinal data on the progress of dental caries in permanent first molars. 252 caries-active children, initially 8-yr old, were followed up from 1979 to 1983. At all three examinations lower socioeconomic (SES) children had a significantly higher caries experience than children the same age in middle and high SES classes. The D2MF-S counts did not change between age 8 and 10, but increased steeply between 10 and 12 yr of age. The D3MF-S counts, on the other hand, rose steadily in all SES classes. The phenomenon was caused by the progression of enamel lesions to dentinal lesions or fillings, leading to a concomitant decrease in the curves of incipient caries lesions (D2). The rise from age 10 to 12 is attributable to new developing enamel lesions. With regard to predilection sites, at all ages and in every SES class, the highest proportion of both indices was due to lesions in occlusal surfaces, followed by buccal and lingual pits and fissures. The approximal sites were the least affected.