Relationship Between Developmental Enamel Defects and Caries in 18-Year-Old Adolescents

Objective: The aim of the cross-sectional study was to assess the potential relationship between developmental defects of the enamel (DDE) and caries in adolescents aged 18 year. Materials: and methods: A total of 1,611 individuals aged 18 years were selected based on randomisation to form a nationally representative sample from all provinces of Poland. Dental evaluation was performed by 22 trained and calibrated dentists. DDE and caries were assessed using the modified DDE index, MIH Treatment Need Index, FDI and WHO criteria. T-test was used for comparing group means. A simple and multiple logistic regression were used to assess the relationship between DDE and caries (p <0.05). Results: : The prevalence of DDE was 13.7%. Demarcated opacities (DEO) were the most frequent (9.65%); 4% had diffuse opacities (DIO), 1.5% had hypoplasia and 0.6% - MIH. The prevalence of caries was 93.2%, with mean DMFT of 6.50±4.22. The DMFT and DMFS values ​​were: 7.52±4.77 and 11.31±8.94 in the group of patients with DEO; 7.85±4.74 and 11.88±9.83 with DIO and 7.56 ±4.57 and 10.96±8.77 with enamel hypoplasia, respectively. There was an association between the presence of caries and DDE (p <0.001): DEO (p = 0.001) and DIO (p = 0.038), and between DDE and DMFT (p <0.001). Conclusions: : Caries and DDE are prevalent and influenced the dental health of 18-year-old adolescents. The presence of DDE had significant association with caries severity in 18-year-old adolescents. Adolescents with DDE had a higher probability to develop carious lesions. Clinical Relevance: DDE is associated with dental caries.