Individual caries increments during adolescence in seven Norwegian cohorts born 1996-2002.

backgroundCaries increment during adolescence, including enamel caries, is rarely explored in detail. This study assessed the caries increment during the period from 12 to 18 years. The specific objectives were to examine time trends, increment variability between individuals, and whether baseline caries experience at 12 years or sex had an impact on the caries increment.

methodsThe sample included seven birth cohorts (1996-2002; n = 23,135) from a general adolescent population in Trøndelag County, Norway. Data was based on dental records from the Public Dental Service. Two caries increment thresholds were examined at the tooth level: the enamel caries increment (ΔD

resultsThe mean caries increments for the seven cohorts were ΔD

conclusionsWhile there was a modest reduction in caries increment across cohorts, this reduction was small compared to the variation in caries increments between individuals. The change across cohorts was the same in females and males. Baseline caries experience at 12 years was a strong predictor of caries increment and the reduction across cohorts was only seen among those with lower baseline caries experience, incdicating an increased dental health disparity among Norwegian adolescents. CLINICAL

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05935813, Release Date: 28/06/2023.