Caries incidence and lesion progression from adolescence to young adulthood: a prospective 15-year cohort study in Sweden

Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts

Abstract

A strategy of limiting operative treatment may have helped to prevent some caries.

Main

Mejàre I, Stenlund H et al. Caries Res 2004; 38: 130–141

Patients under 20 yrs of age are offered free dental care in Sweden. This study began with a cohort of 536 children 11–13 yrs old, born in 1972–3 in a Stockholm suburb, who were followed up to age 21–22 yrs, when 364 remained, and 250 agreed to a further examination at age 26-27 yrs.

From 12 to 26–27 yrs, mean proximal DFS increased from 0.5 to 5.0, and occlusal DFS from 3.0 to 5.1. Overall caries incidence in enamel was 4 new lesions/100 surface-years (NL/100), and decreased over the period. Incidence of progression from enamel to dentine was 4.7 NL/100 and also decreased.

The authors conclude that new caries incidence and the rate of lesion progression decreased from adolescence to young adulthood, and a restricted approach to proximal restorations may have benefited the subjects, as few such restorations were present and very few lesions extended into the inner half of the dentine.