Effect of Eruption of First Permanent Molar on the Caries Pattern of Primary Second Molars - Original Research

Introduction: Human growth involves 2 sets of teeth, primary dentition and permanent dentition. The chronology and sequence of eruption of human primary and permanent teeth are important milestones during a childs development. Estimation of eruption schedule is a very valuable tool in childs dental health planning including diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic measures in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.1 Any deformity with the primary set of teeth impacts the growth and development of the permanent teeth. The Occlusion of primary teeth is said to be completed with the eruption of the primary second molar which in turn defines the arch length, thus, helping in predicting the occlusion in permanent dentition. The Primary second molar shows a unique pattern of decay that starts from initiation to complete eruption of permanent first molar i. e around 4to 8 years. During this period, the risk factors are Increase in cariogenic flora& adherence sites.5 Hence, this study was designed with an objective to observe the Caries occurrence and pattern in primary second molar with the eruption of permanent first molar between the ages of 4-8 years MATERIALS AND METHOD: 64 school kids were screened within 2 age groups ranging from 4-8 years. Group division was done on the basis of eruption of 1st permanent molars and it was kept as a homogenous group with children having same geographical, social and economic status. RESULTS: It was observed that there was a strong association between the carious involvement of the distal surface of deciduous second molars, in group I (14 %) and group II (21 %), and the carious involvement of the mesio-occlusal surface (14 %) and the occlusal surface (4 %) of the permanent first molar. CONCLUSION: Caries was found to be prevalent in 22.5 % in primary second molars in children with Primary dentition in comparison to 40.4 % in children with erupted permanent first molar.