DENTAL-CARIES AMONG CHILDREN FROM SOLNTSEVSKY - A DISTRICT IN MOSCOW,1993

In order to provide a baseline for planning a caries preventive progra m for children in a district in Moscow, samples of 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, a nd 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 toothbrushing, the children wer e examined for caries. Each tooth surface was examined and classified in progressive stages of caries involving opaque enamel lesions, incre asing 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 chi ldren had surfaces covered with thick plaque (score 2). Gingivitis was observed in one or more places in 2/3 of the children. Caries experie nce in the primary dentition was high, and low to moderate in the perm anent dentition. However, the average number of surfaces with deep den tin cavitation, indicating pulpal involvement in 14-yr-olds, was 1.7. Caries on primary molar teeth accounted for about 80% of the accumulat ed caries experience among the 8-yr-olds. Caries on permanent first mo lars accounted for about 70% of the accumulated caries experience amon g the 14-yr-olds. The occlusal surface on permanent first molars was t he most prone to caries in the permanent dentition.