Abstract:
Background. The permanent first molar is the most vulnerable to caries due to its position, coronal
morphology and early eruption in the oral cavity. The purpose of the study is to determine the
prevalence of dental caries in the permanent first molar in a group of children aged between 7-14 years.
Materials and methods. A statistical study was carried out over a period of 1 year on a group of 53
children aged between 7-14 years. Each patient was questioned and examined, noting the dental status
of the temporary and permanent teeth. Also, the COE index was calculated for each patient, noting the
number of carious teeth and the number of extracted and filled teeth. The data were recorded and
processed statistically with the Microsoft Excel program.
Results. The 53 children included in the study had a total of 184 erupted permanent first molars on the
arch. Of these, 43.4% (80) were free of caries, 8.2% (15) had fissure caries, 21.7% (40) – simple caries,
2.7% (5) – complicated caries and 24% (44) – fillings. Regarding the gender distribution of caries of
the first permanent molars, a predominance of boys is observed. However, in recent centuries, an
important decrease in the prevalence of dental caries and the severity of molar caries in children can
be observed in developed countries and even in countries with a disadvantaged socio-economic
situation.
Conclusions. The particular vulnerability to caries of the permanent first molar imposes the need for
permanent supervision, the rigorous application of dental caries prevention methods, the sealing of
fissures and pits, as well as early therapeutic intervention. Since the prevalence of dental caries is very
high for patients under the age of 10, it is necessary to adopt caries prevention strategies applied as
early as possible.
