Abstract
In 1981-82, 697 children in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study had dental examinations at age 9. The examinations, by one investigator (GWS), occurred in school dental clinics using the same light source and standardised probes. The mean DMF-T score was 0.98, and mean DMF-S score was 1.21. The permanent dentitions of 54% of children were caries-free; 99% had all permanent incisors unaffected by caries, and 55% had all first permanent molars unaffected by caries. The percentages of surfaces of upper first permanent molars affected by caries were: occlusal 21%, mesial 1.2%, distal 0.9%, palatal 3.7%, buccal 1.0%. The corresponding figures for lower first permanent molars were: occlusal 17.9%, mesial 1.2%, distal 0.2%, lingual 0.2%, and buccal 10.9%. Prevention of fissure caries in this age group is a priority if further reduction in DMF is to be achieved.