Considerations about complicated caries of primary molars

Aim. Assessment of the distribution and severity of complicated caries in primary molars and the treatment methods applied in a group of children treated in the Pedodontics Department, Bucharest. Material and method. Retrospective observational-descriptive study performed on the dental files of 100 patients (48 boys) aged between 3 and 10 years. The inclusion criteria was: at least one second primary molar erupted, in non-syndromic patients caries-free or with common pattern of caries. Caries prevalence index (Ip) and dmf-t/-s indices on primary molars for the whole group, by age groups and sex were calculated. Caries distribution and severity, especially those complicated on primary molars and the treatment methods applied were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed with the program SPSS 20.0, using t-test and ANOVA-test (p = 0.05). Results. Ip = 95%; 78% of children had at least one primary molar with complicated caries; dmf-t = 4.02±2.93; dmf-s = 9.67±6.83. Of the 748 primary molars examined, 394 (52.67%) had caries, of which 242(61.42%) – uncomplicated caries and 152(38.57%) – complicated caries: 56(14.21%) with pulpitis – 12 (3.04%) acute pulpitis and 44(11.16%) chronic pulpitis, 96(24.36%) with pulp necrosis – 5 (1.26%) uncomplicated, 91 (23.09%) complicated. 51.01% of caries were occlusal-proximal, the differences being non-statistically significant between arches (p > 0.05). First primary molars were more affected by complicated caries than the second ones (58.55% versus 41.45%) (p < 0.05). The most common treatment methods applied: for pulpitis-devital pulpectomy (88.57%); for pulp necrosis: conservative treatment (37.5%), extraction (52.08%). Conclusions. The high prevalence of complicated caries in primary molars underlines the need for regular dental check-ups in order to apply more conservative treatments.