Some Observations on Dental Caries in Central China

Abstract

A survey of 3349 male and female Chinese students between the ages of 12 and 27 yrs. showed that 71.6% of them were DMF-negative. Of the 95,830 permanent teeth examined 2.46% were found to have been affected by caries, or an avg. of 0.7 of a tooth per person. Among those with caries, 39.2% had only 1 D.M.F. tooth per person, 30% had 2 D.M.F. teeth per person, and 13% had 3 D.M.F. teeth per person. Only 2.3% of those examined had over 6 D.M.F. teeth. Of all the carious teeth 83.4% had only one surface involved. The first and second molars accounted for 93.7% of the D.M.F. teeth (the lower first molars alone accounting for 45.7%. 83% of the cavities in the lower 1st and 93.3% of the cavities in the lower 2d molars occurred in the pits and fissures of the occlusal surfaces. Caries of the anterior teeth was extremely rare. A dietary survey revealed that the diet was deficient in calories and many essential nutrients, especially animal proteins, Ca, vitamin A, ribof lavin, and niacin. Up to 82% of the calories were derived from carbohydrates, predominantly polished rice. Sugar consumption was very low. It appeared that the nutritionally deficient Oriental diet rich in carbohydrates (rice) does not predispose to caries.