Retrospective Evaluation of the Relationship Between the First Dental Visit and the Dental Condition of Six- and Seven-Year-Old Children.

BACKGROUND: The delayed time of a childfs first dental visit can influence a future dental condition. OBJECTIVES: To assess the dental condition of children in relation to the age at which their first dental visit took place and the frequency of subsequent visits. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 584 parents of 6.7-year-old children regarding the age and the reason for the first childfs dental visit, the frequency of subsequent visits and caries preventive counseling obtained during the visits. The childrenfs dental condition was assessed by dmft and DMFT values. RESULTS: Nine point five percent of the children first visited the dentist up to 1 year old, 44.0% over 3, and 38.7% have not yet had. The highest dmft and DMFT values were among children having their first dental visit at the age of < 2 . 3. The most frequent reason for the first visit was a check-up (54.3%) and a carious lesion (42.4%). Higher dmft and DMFT values were among children with a symptomatic first visit than with an asymptomatic one. Caries severity in the primary teeth was correlated with the reason for the first dental visit and the frequency of subsequent visits. CONCLUSIONS: Caries severity in primary teeth may be predicted by the reason for the first dental visit and the frequency of subsequent visits.