Dental caries among children from Solntsevsky – a district in Moscow, 1993

Abstract In order to provide a baseline for planning a caries preventive program for children in a district in Moscow, samples of 6‐, 8‐, 10‐, 12‐, and 14‐yr‐old children were examined. The initial examination included recording of plaque on selected surfaces using a classification from 0 to 2 (thick plaque). After supervised tooth brushing, the children were examined for caries. Each tooth surface was examined and classified in progressive stages of caries involving opaque enamel lesions, increasing stages of cavity formation, fillings with and without caries and extractions due to caries. Gingival status in selected locations was classified from 0 to 2 (severe inflammation). More than 2/3 of the children had surfaces covered with thick plaque (score 2). Gingivitis was observed in one or more places in 2/3 of the children. Caries experience in the primary dentition was high, and low to moderate in the permanent dentition. However, the average number of surfaces with deep dentin cavitation, indicating pulpal involvement in 14‐yr‐olds, was 1.7. Caries on primary molar teeth accounted for about 80% of the accumulated caries experience among the 8‐yr‐olds. Caries on permanent first molars accounted for about 70% of the accumulated caries experience among the 14‐yr‐olds. The occlusal surface on permanent first molars was the most prone to caries in the permanent dentition.