RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN THE TEETH AND JAWS OF 14 TO 17-YEAR-OLD ESTONIAN SCHOOLCHILDREN IN TARTU AND TALLINN

Panoramic radiographs were taken of 392 Estonian schoolchildren (33% b oys and 67% girls) aged 14-17 years, 197 in Tartu and 195 in Tallinn. The mean number of permanent teeth was 31.5. In 14% of the children on e to four teeth (excluding wisdom teeth) were missing. The frequencies of missing wisdom teeth and supernumerary teeth agreed with those in the Literature, being 17% and 3%, respectively. The mean number of rad iographically detected carious teeth was 1.9 in Tartu and 3.3 in Talli nn. Secondary caries was common, being found radiographically in half of the schoolchildren. Endodontic treatment had been given to 13% of t he subjects in Tartu and to 46% in Tallinn, the success rates being 47 % and 44%, respectively. The percentage of radiographic signs in the m andibular condyles of girls (5%) was greater than that of boys (1%). C hanges in the maxillary sinuses were found in 16% of tile children. Ei ght odontogenic cysts, one cyst of the incisal canal, and one solitary bone cyst were found. Tumors included two odontomas, two cemento-ossi fying lesions, and one osteoma in the maxillary sinus. The health stat us of the jaws of the Estonian schoolchildren was considered to be fai rly good.