Professional paper
Epidemiologic Examination of the Condition of the First Permanent Molars in Adolescents
Dora Najžar-Fleger
; Department of Dental School of Dentistry University of Zagreb, Craotia
Ljiljana Valentak
; DZ ’’Trešnjevka II”, Croatia
Abstract
The first permanent molars (FPM) are the most frequent in dental
morbidity. They are the first to lose vitality and with them loss of permanent teeth commences. The condition o f FPM was examined in 428 middle school pupils and it was established that only 0.7% of pupils had all four FPM intact, and 45.6% had from one to four devitalised FPM. Out o f the total number of FPM which should have been present in the mouths, 7.9% intact were found, 9.9% caries, 68.1% treated, of which 25.2% devitalised FPM. FPM mortality amounted to 14.1%. In the eighteenth year of life one third o f the FPM were no longer vital. Out of the total number o f devitalised FPM 49.2% were devitalised before the fifteenth year o f life, 50.8% were treated later; 62.4% due to pulpitis and 37.6% due to gangrene.
By preventive measures FPM should be maintained intact as long as possible, and by early detection o f caries and prompt treatment the number o f endodontic operations and extractions reduced.
Keywords
first permanent molar; adolescents; vitality; morbidity; mortality
Hrčak ID:
98639
URI
Publication date:
15.9.1996.
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