What percentage of adolescents have dental caries by the age of 17?

Prepare for the Cariology and Prevention 1 Test using flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Boost your exam readiness!

Multiple Choice

What percentage of adolescents have dental caries by the age of 17?

Explanation:
Caries experience accumulates with age, so by age 17 most individuals have had at least one carious lesion in their permanent teeth. The DMFT index, which measures decayed, missing due to caries, and filled teeth, tends to rise as people grow older, reflecting cumulative exposure to cariogenic factors. In many population surveys, about four-fifths of 17-year-olds show caries experience, which is why 80% is the best general estimate. This figure refers to having had caries at any point (not necessarily active disease right now) in the permanent dentition.

Caries experience accumulates with age, so by age 17 most individuals have had at least one carious lesion in their permanent teeth. The DMFT index, which measures decayed, missing due to caries, and filled teeth, tends to rise as people grow older, reflecting cumulative exposure to cariogenic factors. In many population surveys, about four-fifths of 17-year-olds show caries experience, which is why 80% is the best general estimate. This figure refers to having had caries at any point (not necessarily active disease right now) in the permanent dentition.

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