CONDITION OF FIRST PERMANENT MOLARS AND LEVEL OF CARIOGENIC BACTERIA IN CHILDREN.

Objective: The first permanent molars are extremely influential dental structures in maxillofacial growth and development, and in the oral health status. Aim: was to assess the Prevalence of First Permanent Molar Caries Among 7-year old Children in Al-Qassim Province and its possible correlation with the different levels of cariogenic bacteria. Subjects & Methods: a cross sectional analytical study design. With a total of 243 children aged 7 year old selected from different schools randomly. Clinical examination of children was conducted to assess dental caries, and saliva was collected to assess S. mutans(SM) levels, lactobacilli (LB), salivary flow, and buffering capacity of saliva. Results: Prevalence of carious first permanent molars was high 153 (63%). No statistically significant difference revealed by chi-square test between carious first permanent molars and Ph. Statistical significant difference was found between carious first permanent molars and saliva buffer capacity. The relation between caries and SM, and LB levels was highly statistically significant at P<0.001. Children with carious first permanent molars tend to have high number of SM and LB in saliva than children with sound first permanent molars. Conclusion: The Prevalence of First Permanent Molar Caries Among 7-year old Children in Al-Qassim Province is high. Levels of SM and LB were also high, this result gives an indication that there is higher risk for those children to develop more caries in their permanent teeth in the future. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of early intervention and educational programs which should be implemented even before the FPMs erupt.