Caries increment and progression in teenagers when using a prevention- rather than restoration-oriented treatment strategy.

In a group of young teenagers restorative treatment on approximal carious surfaces was postponed until carious lesions were radiographically detected in the dentine, permitting a reallocation of resources to preventive care. The development of new lesions and the rate of progression of unrestored lesions were studied by means of bitewing radiographs obtained at 13 and 16 years of age. Of the radiographically sound surfaces at age 13, 1.3% developed dentinal lesions within the three year period. Approximately 18% of outer enamel lesions and about 55% of inner enamel lesions progressed into the dentine. The number of new lesions as well as the rate of progression varied between groups of patients exhibiting different caries experience at age 13. A total of 1.2 surfaces per patient required restorative treatment according to the treatment strategy applied compared to 5.3 if all radiographically diagnosed lesions would have been restored.