[Dental health of first molars among Westphalian immigrants and German students]. / Zahngesundheit erster Molaren bei westfälischen Migranten und deutschen Schülern.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the health status of the occlusal surface on the first molars of Westphalian students, of whom 41.0% were immigrants. The prevalence and retention of fissure sealants (FS) and caries experience was scored for 161 students aged 8 and 10 years. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict the influence of sex, ethnicity, and retention of FS on the occlusal caries risk of the first molars. There was no difference in caries prevalence and experience in 8-year-old German students and immigrants (5.6%/10.5%; 0.07 DMFT/0.21 DMFT), both parameters were significantly higher in 10-year-old immigrants than in German students (25.5%/9.5%; 0.55 DMFT/0.11 DMFT). The prevalence and number of molars with FS was not different between German students and immigrants at 8 years (39.1%, 1.28 FS; 33.8%, 0.94 FS) and at 10 years of age (47.4%, 1.68 FS; 39.4%, 1.17 FS). The occlusal caries risk of first molars without FS was significantly higher in 8-year-old immigrants than in German students (OR 4.62). FS should be used more frequently in daily dental practice. To improve the quality of FS, stricter implementation of guideline-based standards is required.