Caries prevalence of the primary dentition at age seven. an indicator for future caries prevalence in the permanent dentition.

The correlation between caries prevalence in the primary dentition at age 7 and the permanent dentition at age 13 was examined in 136 ctu’Idren. The caries increment in the permanent dentition from age 7 to 13 years was also examined. A correlation coefficient of 0.47 in 79 males and 0.61 in 57females (p<O.O01) was found between the deft age 7 and the DMFS at age 13. A significant difference in caries prevalence and increment in the permanent dentition was found between the children originally having a zero to five deft and those with a deft of six or above.