Prevalence of caries in first permanent molar among children in Saudi Arabia: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the prevalence of dental caries in first permanent molars among children aged 7-14 years in Saudi Arabia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional study included 6,089 panoramic radiographs of boys and girls aged 7-14 years who visited Riyadh Elm University Dental Hospital in Riyadh. All the panoramic radiographs were examined by five calibrated examiners for caries, filling, missing, and pulp therapy in the first permanent molars (FPMs). The Chi-square test was applied at a p<0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 24,356 FPMs were evaluated from the panoramic radiograph, 69.5% of FPMs were sound, 22.5% were carious, and 7.3% were treated. The prevalence of decayed FPMs was 30.5%. A statistically significant difference in the status of FPM was observed across genders. Caries in the mandibular FPM was significantly higher than those in the maxillary FPM at p<0.05.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of caries in the FPM was relatively high, and females had more decay than males. Additionally, the mandibular FPMs showed higher levels of caries than the upper FPMs.