IADR Abstract Archives
Prevalence and Progression of Non-Cavitated Caries Lesions
Objectives: Non-cavitated caries lesions, the initial stage of caries, can progress to cavitation if preventive measures are not taken. This paper reports on participant-level and surface/zone-level prevalence of non-cavitated (D1) lesions, and changes in the caries status of D1 lesions through different age intervals from age 9 to 23.
Methods: Mothers were recruited immediately post-partum into the Iowa Fluoride Study and their children were followed longitudinally. All tooth surfaces were examined for caries without radiographs at ages 9, 13, 17, and 23 using standardized criteria for sound (S), questionable (D0), non-cavitated (D1), cavitated (D2+), filled (F), and missing due to decay (M). Non-cavitated lesions at the beginning of each interval were re-assessed at each interval’s follow-up age to determine whether any transitions to the 5 categories had occured.
Results: Person-level (n=629) prevalences of D1 lesions were 23%, 38%, 60%, and 45% at ages 9, 13, 17, and 23, respectively. Surface/zone-level prevalences were less than 1% at ages 9 and 13, 3% at 17, and 2% at 23. Thirteen percent of D1 surfaces/zones at age 9 progressed (to D2MF) at 13, 18% progressed from 13 to 17, and 11% progressed from 17 to 23. The percentages regressing (to sound or D0) were 72% at age 13, 54% at age 17, and 72% at age 23 years, respectively.
Conclusions: Non-cavitated lesions were more prevalent at age 17 than at ages 9, 13, and 23. The rates of regression were higher than progression or no change, suggesting that early detection and intervention are important in preventing progress to cavitated lesions.
Methods: Mothers were recruited immediately post-partum into the Iowa Fluoride Study and their children were followed longitudinally. All tooth surfaces were examined for caries without radiographs at ages 9, 13, 17, and 23 using standardized criteria for sound (S), questionable (D0), non-cavitated (D1), cavitated (D2+), filled (F), and missing due to decay (M). Non-cavitated lesions at the beginning of each interval were re-assessed at each interval’s follow-up age to determine whether any transitions to the 5 categories had occured.
Results: Person-level (n=629) prevalences of D1 lesions were 23%, 38%, 60%, and 45% at ages 9, 13, 17, and 23, respectively. Surface/zone-level prevalences were less than 1% at ages 9 and 13, 3% at 17, and 2% at 23. Thirteen percent of D1 surfaces/zones at age 9 progressed (to D2MF) at 13, 18% progressed from 13 to 17, and 11% progressed from 17 to 23. The percentages regressing (to sound or D0) were 72% at age 13, 54% at age 17, and 72% at age 23 years, respectively.
Conclusions: Non-cavitated lesions were more prevalent at age 17 than at ages 9, 13, and 23. The rates of regression were higher than progression or no change, suggesting that early detection and intervention are important in preventing progress to cavitated lesions.