低年齢児における乳臼歯隣接面う蝕の発生と進行について

Abstract

Incidence and Progression of Approximal Caries in Deciduous Molars of Preschool Children, Okiuji TAKAGI, Katsuhiko TAURA, Noriko TAKAHASHI and Yoshihiro SHIMADA. Posterior bitewing radiographs of 161 nursery school children in Sendai, initially aged 3 to 4 years in May to July, 1980, were taken every six-months for 2 years to investigate the incidence and progression rate of approximal carious lesions in deciduous molars.At the initial examination, 1038 caries-free surfaces (X0), 224 surfaces with carious lesions in the enamel (X1) and 17 surfaces with dentinal carious lesions up to halfway through the dentine (X2) were radiographically defined. These were reexamined every 6 months over a 2-year period, and the cumulative progression rate of the X0, X1 and X2 was calculated. The following results were obtained.1. In the study period, 77.6 % of the X1 progressed into dentinal caries, and the rest were unchanged. Approximately 34.6 % of the X1 progressed to possible pulpitis (X3).2. In comparing the progression rate between the X1 of different tooth types, the rate for the mesial surface of the lower first deciduous molars was greater than others.3. 75.6 % of the X2 progressed into more advanced involvement.4. The X1 had a tendency to progress quickly in the first year, and the X2 showed this tendency in the second year. The X0 showed a similar progression rate in both years.From these results, dentinal carious lesions detected by a bitewing radiograph should be filled immediately, but it is questionable whether radiological lesions defined in the enamel should be treated immediately. Moreover, we think that bitewing radiographs at yearly intervals should be used to define approximal lesions in preschool children, because a relatively large number of carious surfaces are detected by this method.