Outcomes Associated with Restored and Unrestored Deciduous Molar Teeth

Abstract

Introduction

Most dental treatment for children in the United Kingdom (UK) is provided by general dental practitioners (GDPs) working in the National Health Service (NHS). A working party of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry, in a special publication from the Dental Practice Board, has suggested that failure to provide restorative care for the deciduous dentition is unacceptable, yet GDPs are filling fewer teeth in young children. The study aimed to evaluate the health outcomes obtained from restoring carious deciduous molar teeth.

Method

The dental records of 677 children cared for by 50 GDPs in the north west of England were analysed.

Results

The results showed that 18.8% of deciduous molars with unrestored caries and 17.0% with a history of restorative care went on to be extracted because of pain or sepsis.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the risk of carious deciduous molars being extracted is similar whether these teeth receive restorative care or not.

Keywords

Deciduous Molars Restoration Outcome Measures

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