A longitudinal study of caries development in initially caries-free naval recruits

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the pattern of caries development in initially caries-free naval recruits during a four-year period. The results indicated that: (1) 37% of the individuals developed at least one carious lesion during the four-year study, (2) occlusal lesions occurred most frequently, (3) maxillary second molars were most frequently attacked, and (4) the development of caries mirrored the isolation frequency of Streptococcus mutans.