[An epidemiological investigation of caries status of the first permanent molars of children aged 7-9 year in Taizhou City].

PURPOSE: To investigate caries prevalence of the first permanent molars of children aged 7-9 years in Taizhou city.

METHODS: According to caries diagnostic criteria of WHO, 3653 primary school students in downtown areas of Taizhou city were surveyed; the data were statistically analyzed with SPSS 20.0 software package.

RESULTS: The total caries prevalence rate of the first permanent molars was 24.99%. The average decayed-missing-filled (DMFT) teeth were 0.49.The total filling rate was 3.62%. The caries prevalence of the first permanent molars in 7-，8- and 9 year-old children was 15.37%,20.38% and 39.67%， respectively. The caries prevalence of girls was 27.61%, which was significantly higher than boys (21.84%).The caries prevalence (%) rate of the first permanent molars in the mandible was significantly higher than that in the maxilla.

CONCLUSIONS: Caries prevalence of the first permanent molars is high in children aged 7-9 years in Taizhou city. Caries prevention and treatment measures should be strengthened for children in order to reduce the incidence of dental caries.