Annals and Essences of Dentistry
Open Access

Behaviour of Paediatric Patients towards Dental Treatment of Primary Molars

Eman Bakhurji^{* *}Correspondence: Eman Bakhurji, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Email:

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Description of the Study

This retrospective study aimed to investigate the influence of patient’s behaviour towards dental treatment on the presence of adjacent proximal surfaces in the primary molars. Records were eligible if the patients were in primary or mixed dentition, and if they included a complete set of bitewings and periapical intraoral radiographs of all their primary molars. Four calibrated reviewers used intraoral radiographs to record the sound, decayed, and filled proximal distal surfaces of the first primary molars and the mesial surfaces of the second primary molars. Demographical variables were reported from patient’s medical records including gender, age, medical history, nationality, and patient behaviour. Patient’s behaviours were evaluated using Frankl’s Behaviour Rating Scale. The Pearson correlation was used to test the association between the sounds, decayed, and filled distal surfaces of the first primary molars and the mesial surface of the second primary molar. High correlations of ≥ 0.6 were further tested in simple and multiple linear regression models to test the influence of patient’s behaviours on these correlations after adjusting for demographical factors. All tests were performed at 5% significance level. A total of 1194 records met the inclusion criteria and were analysed. There was a high positive correlation between the sound, decayed, and filled distal surfaces of the first primary molar and similar surfaces on the mesial of the second primary molars.

Dental caries is considered one of the most common diseases worldwide despite the noticeable increase in oral and dental health awareness. It can lead to pain, suffering, poor oral hygiene, and reduced quality of life for adolescents and adults. Dental caries affected 2.4 billion people in 2017 alone. Caries prevalence is estimated to affect approximately 80% of individuals in developing countries, and approximately 90% of those caries are left untreated. In Saudi Arabia, despite the free dental services provided by the government, the prevalence of dental caries remains high. During the last decade, the prevalence of caries in individuals with primary dentition in Saudi Arabia was reported to reach 95%. In addition, previous studies reported an average dmft score is approximately six. This high prevalence and incidence of dental caries in children could be related to increased sugar consumption, dietary habits, and reduced awareness of oral health and diseases. Proximal caries is a category of dental caries that develops between two adjacent teeth. It is crucial to detect proximal caries early in the development of primary dentition due to the rapid progression of caries between the adjacent surfaces of the teeth. In comparison to permanent teeth, primary teeth have thinner enamel and dentine, a lesser degree of remineralisation, and wider dentinal tubules. The early detection of proximal caries in these teeth is a fundamental component of minimally invasive dentistry because the prevention of caries’ progression to adjacent teeth is less destructive to tooth structures. One method to define proximal caries in clinical studies is the use of the term caries adjacent to restoration (CAR).

Also, the relationship seen between the impacts of patient conduct on the proximal neighbouring surfaces of the primary molars depended on cross-sectional information; along these lines, temporal relations can't be laid out. No one but affiliations can be drawn from the concentrated on connections without an authoritative direction. However, this study could fill in as a baseline for future longitudinal forthcoming examinations, with additional complex factors focusing on various areas in Saudi Arabia. A comprehension of the general caries circulation would assist general wellbeing offices with giving preventable and practical strategies to diminish their occurrence. This will ultimately prompt better oral and foundational wellbeing, patient experience, and social prosperity. The execution of explicit social administration strategies is likewise critical to diminish dental dread and nervousness.