NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, cilt.25, sa.5, ss.557-562, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the pit and fissure morphology of
the permanent first molars (PFMs) in the dentition of 7‑ to 12‑year‑old patients
in Turkish children. Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on
706 patients who attended the Dokuz Eylul University Child Clinic. Examinations
of the patients were carried out with dental unit light, mouth mirror, and probe
by two dentists. Age, gender, plaque scores, pit and fissure morphology, caries,
restorations, and missing teeth were recorded. Results: Of the 706 patients
included in this study, 441 (62.5%) of them have affected PFMs. Intermediate
type fissure morphology (57.5%) was seen as the most common type. A positive
correlation was observed between the age and the caries experience (p = 0.000).
Patients with deep pits and fissure morphology have more caries affected teeth
than patients with shallow pit and fissure morphology, and the difference
was statistically significant (p = 0.000). Patients with deep pits and fissure
morphology have significantly more plaque accumulation on PFMs compared
to the patients with shallow and intermediate fissure morphology (p = 0.000).
Conclusions: Despite the limitations of the study, we can conclude that the patients
with deep pit‑fissure morphology are more susceptible to caries development and
plaque accumulation than the patients with shallow and intermediate type pit and
fissure morphology.