INVESTIGATING PERMANENT FIRST MOLARS OF A TURKISH PEDIATRIC SAMPLE IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION: A RADIOGRAPHIC STUDY

Abstract

The early loss of first permanent molars (FPMs) may cause various problems in the dentofacial region. In the present study, it was aimed to evaluate the conditions of FPMs of a Turkish pediatric sample living in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Dental panoramic radiographs (DPR) with good diagnostic quality and demographic characteristics of patients aged 7-17 years were retrospectively reviewed. Accordingly, affected teeth were evaluated by caries, filling, root canal treatment, retained root, apical lesion, and extraction. FPMs were compared by mandible, maxilla, and right-left jaw positions. The study was carried out with a total of 929 children, 442 (47.60) females and 487 (52.40) males. The participants were between the ages of 7-17 (M=12.10 ± 2.92). Among 3,974 FPMs evaluated, 2,018 (50.79%) were determined to be healthy, while 1,956 (49.21%) were affected. DC1 and F1 were the most common conditions of all evaluated FPMs. Regarding mandibular and maxillary FPMs, 1.137 of the FPMs1+FPMs2 and 881 of the FPMs3+FPMs4 were discovered to be healthy, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). However, any significant differences were not found between right and left FPMs by treatment. While FPMs remained healthy significantly more in the age group of 7-9 years (Group-I), extraction, root canal treatment, and apical treatment were significantly higher in the age group of 16-17 years (Group-IV) (p< 0.001). Ultimately, it was concluded that FPMs start to be affected from early ages and that incidences of root canal treatment, extraction, and apical lesions become more prevalent with advancing age. This situation emphasizes the importance of applying preventive therapies as soon as the eruption of these teeth in children and attempting to increase relevant awareness among families.