Morphology of the occlusal surface of primary molars as a risk factor for caries.

Aims: Impact of primary molars is a significant problem for children with early caries, as they are the ones that predominate in the structure of damage to primary teeth. The goal of our study was to investigate the peculiarities of the primary molars occlusal surfaces with the study of their types and possibilities of caries occurrence in them.

Methods: To study the odontoglyphics of primary molars, a clinical preventive dental examination of 335 children of preschool institutions in the city of Poltava and Poltava region was conducted with the written consent of their parents. As a part of this examination, the occlusal surface of primary molars was studied according to the classic dental examination method with the examination card of each examined child being filled in. After a detailed study of odontoglyphic patterns of occlusal surfaces, photoprotocoling was carried out. A total of 2484 primary molars were examined: 622 maxillary first molars, 634 maxillary second molars, 608 mandibular first molars, and 620 mandibular second molars.

Results: We found that both maxillary and mandibular primary molars which have a complex relief of the occlusal surface are most often affected by caries.

Conclusions: The obtained data indicate that the primary molars of the upper and lower jaw, which have a complex pattern of the chewing surface, are most often affected. However, there is a need for preventive measures in children with such types of structure of the chewing surface.