Clinical Study Comparing Dental Caries in First and Second Molars of Adults in Benghazi, Libya: Part I

Objectives: To detect the presence of dental caries in second permanent molars in comparison with first molars among adults in Benghazi, Libya
Methods: Methods: Clinical examination of adult patients was conducted at the department of Clinical Restorative Dentistry, Libyan International Medical University (LIMU) in Benghazi. A total of 400 Libyan patients; 162 males and 238 females ranging in age from 20 to 50 years, living in Benghazi were enrolled in the study. Clinical examinations to detect presence of untreated and treated dental caries of the first and second permanent molars were performed during their visits. Site of the untreated caries and type of restoration for the treated caries were recorded.
Results: Results: ANOVA and t-test revealed a significant difference in the caries presence between the first and second molars (P 〈 0.05). The mean values of untreated caries in the first and second molars were 1.84 ±0.94 and 2.10 ±1.03 respectively. However, there was no significant difference between both molars for the treated caries (P 〉0.05). The mean values for the first and second molars were 1.51 ±0.83 and 1.54 ±0.86 respectively. Majority of caries lesions were located at the occlusal surfaces for both molars, accounting for 70.87% in the first molar and 77.29% in the second molar, and were restored either with amalgam or resin composite.
Conclusions: Dental caries presence in the second molar was higher than the first molar for untreated caries. For treated caries, the presence of caries was found to be similar for the first and second molars. The occlusal caries was found to be the commonest site for caries occurrence for both molars.