Relationship between the presence of demarcated opacities and hypoplasia in permanent teeth and caries in their primary predecessors

Caries Res. 2003 Nov-Dec;37(6):456-61. doi: 10.1159/000073400.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the presence of demarcated opacities and hypoplasia on permanent teeth and the caries status of the primary predecessor teeth in a cohort of Chinese children.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 250 children living in a non-fluoridated area in Southern China whose caries status of primary teeth at the age of 3-6 years had been recorded annually in a previous study. A follow-up examination of their permanent teeth was conducted when they were about 12 years old. The presence of enamel defects was determined by consensus of 2 dentists according to the modified DDE index.

Results: 56.8% of the 250 children examined had demarcated opacities, while 10.8% of them had hypoplasia. Demarcated opacities and hypoplasia were found in 5.8 and 1.3% of the teeth examined, respectively. A higher prevalence of demarcated opacities was found in those permanent teeth of which their primary predecessor teeth had caries than in those without (7.5 vs. 3.8%, p < 0.001). A similar finding was obtained for the prevalence of hypoplasia (1.9 vs. 0.4%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: There was an association between caries in primary teeth and the presence of demarcated opacities and hypoplasia in their permanent successors.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • China
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cuspid / pathology
  • DMF Index
  • Dental Caries / complications*
  • Dental Enamel / abnormalities*
  • Dental Enamel Hypoplasia / complications*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Incisor / pathology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Molar / pathology
  • Tooth, Deciduous / pathology*