DOI: 10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1746114 ISSN: 2459-1459

Assessment of the Current Dental Condition and Treatment Needs of Permanent First Molars in University Students

Eda Gürsu Şahin, Başak Karasu
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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the current endodontic and periodontal conditions, treatment history, treatment needs and oral hygiene habits of university students in Türkiye in a comparative study of students in the dentistry faculty and other faculties. Methods: The study included university students of the Faculty of Dentistry who had undergone panoramic radiography for any reason and had not received treatment related to the first molar over the past six months. A total of 202 university students were analyzed, including 101 dental and 101 non-dental students. The presence, treatment status, periodontal health parameters (plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth and clinical attachment level), treatment needs, medical history of PFMs and responses to questionnaires about oral hygiene habits were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using R (version 4.4.3). Associations between categorical variables were assessed using the chi-square test, with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals calculated. The McNemar test was used for maxillary–mandibular comparisons, and p < .05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Hypomineralization was detected in 31% of the PFMs, with treatment needs being higher in mandibular PFMs exhibiting hypomineralization. A significant bilateral relationship was found in terms of hypomineralization (p < .001).Conclusion: Individuals with oral health education had fewer caries and less gingivitis. Hypomineralization was found to occur bilaterally and associated with a higher risk of dental caries. These findings highlight the symmetrical distribution of hypomineralization and its link to an increased susceptibility to caries.

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