The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and reasons for endodontic treatment in a sample of 19-year-old adolescents living in the city of Malmö, Sweden. Dental records and available radiographs of all 19-year-olds (1,971) registered at the 20 Public Dental Service (PDS) clinics in Malmö were reviewed and data were collected on the following: endodontic treatment, number and type of teeth involved, and diagnosis leading to treatment. Endodontic treatment had been performed in 180 (9.1%) patients. The percentage of 19-year-olds at a PDS clinic who had undergone such treatment varied between 1.2% and 25.2%. One tooth had been treated endodontically in 138 (76.7%) of these patients. In three patients four teeth and in two patients five teeth had needed treatment. The molars were the teeth most frequently treated (46.5%), followed by the anteriors (39.5%), and the premolars (14.0%). The most commonly treated tooth was the maxillary central incisor and the most common diagnosis was caries (56.4%) followed by trauma (22.2%) and tooth developmental disturbances (1.6%). In conclusion, endodontic treatment seems to be fairly common among 19-year-olds in the city of Malmo. The great variation seen between the different PDS clinics most likely reflected variations in the socio-economic structure of the catchment areas of the clinics.

Objective. The aim was to study periapical status and the technical quality of root-filled teeth in Swedish adolescents and young adults in Malm, Sweden. Material and Methods. The sample, collected from dental records in the Public Dental Service, consisted of notes and radiographs of all root-filled permanent teeth in all 19-year-olds born in 1979 (mean age at root filling = 16.2 years). The sample for assessing periapical status and technical quality consisted of 124-153 teeth. The criterion for inclusion for assessing periapical status was a follow-up time of at least one year. Periapical status was assessed with the Periapical Index (PAI). Technical quality was analyzed from radiographs in two respects: sealing quality of the root canal and distance from the root filling to the radiographic apex. The radiographs were analyzed independently by two observers with inter-examiner kappa values of 0.82-0.85. Results. Apical periodontitis was found in 52% of the teeth and occurred significantly more often among molars than among anterior teeth. As judged radiographically, 51% of the teeth were inadequately sealed. In 38%, the distance to the apex was >2 mm and overfilling was registered in 14% of the teeth. Compared with anterior teeth, significantly more root fillings of molars had a distance to the apex of >2 mm. Technical quality was statistically significantly correlated with periapical status at follow-up. Conclusions. The technical quality and periapical status of root-filled teeth in adolescents and young adults were unsatisfactory in about half of the teeth.

Objective. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the association between background factors and future endodontic treatment due to caries in young permanent teeth. Material and methods. The material comprised all 19-year-olds born in 1979 in a city in Sweden who had experienced endodontic treatment due to caries in permanent teeth and a control group with no endodontic treatment. From dental records, the following independent variables were derived from age 7 to age 19: immigrant background, caries prevalence (DMFT values) at age 10, occurrence of dental anxiety, and missed or cancelled appointments before endodontic treatment. The outcome variable was presence or absence of endodontic treatment due to caries. Bivariate analysis and a multiple logistic regression model were used to analyse the data. Results. In the bivariate analyses, all independent variables except cancelled appointments were statistically significantly associated with future endodontic treatment. Of these, immigrant background did not remain as a statistically significant factor in the multiple regression model. The highest odds ratios were 4.3 for DMFT at age 10 and 4.1 for 20% missed appointments. Conclusion. In the present sample, with a relatively high proportion of individuals with an immigrant background, DMFT at age 10, many missed appointments and dental anxiety were all risk indicators for future endodontic treatment due to caries up to age 19. Key Words: Dental anxiety, dental avoidance, dental caries, immigrants, risk assessment

The objectives of this longitudinal study were to assess: (a) the prevalence of unrestored dentin caries among 15-year-olds, (b) the proportion of these lesions that had progressed to deep dentin lesions (inner half of dentin) since the immediately preceding examination at the age of 14 and (c) the frequency of deep restorations (extending into the inner half of the dentin). The sample consisted of all 15-year-olds (n = 2,487) born in 1990 and included in the Public Dental Service in Malmo, Sweden. Bitewing radiographs taken during 2005-2007 and the immediately preceding radiographs were analysed and scored by two examiners. The main radiographic scores were: sound; radiolucency in the outer or inner half of dentin; restored surface. The results showed that 22% of the individuals had 1 or more dentin lesions left unrestored from the time of the examination at the age of 14 until the next recall examination at the age of 15. During the observation period (median time 1.2 years), 9% of the unrestored outer dentin lesions progressed to deep dentin lesions. The majority of these (93%) were in molars. One or more deep restorations were found in 22% of the 15-year-olds; the majority involved occlusal surfaces of first molars. In conclusion, unrestored dentin lesions were common in 15-year-olds. Progression to deep dentin lesions occurred in 9% of these lesions and was most common in first molars. Occlusal surfaces of first molars had the highest frequency of deep restorations. (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel