{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T22:28:25Z","timestamp":1782944905861,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,10]],"date-time":"2025-01-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1736467200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"University of Medicine Pharmacy, Science, and Technology \u201cGeorge Emil Palade\u201d of T\u00e2rgu Mure\u0219","award":["164\/7\/10.01.2023"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["164\/7\/10.01.2023"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Dentistry Journal"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Dental caries remains a significant public health challenge in Romania, with recent studies reporting a prevalence of 40% in children\u2019s permanent teeth, with 90% of cases untreated. This study aimed to evaluate the dental status of the first permanent molars in children aged 11\u201312 years. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over 12 months at the Integrated Center for Dental Medicine in T\u00e2rgu Mure\u0219 and two private clinics in Transylvania. A total of 516 children, aged 11\u201312 years, were examined using the ICDAS II classification. Data on carious lesions and dental treatments performed were collected. Results: Of the 2064 first permanent molars examined, 57.99% had carious lesions, fillings, or extractions, while 41.28% were free from caries. Among the affected molars, 41.71% had untreated caries, 9.30% were filled, and 6.25% were sealed. Boys showed a significantly higher prevalence of advanced lesions (ICDAS 4\u20136) compared to girls. Caries predominantly affected the pits and fissures (87.46%). Conclusions: This study reveals a high prevalence of carious lesions in first permanent molars and a low rate of treatment. The findings emphasize the need for improved oral health education, increased access to dental care, and the development of national strategies to prevent and treat dental caries in children.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/dj13010026","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,10]],"date-time":"2025-01-10T03:48:11Z","timestamp":1736480891000},"page":"26","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Regional Epidemiological Study on the Dental Status of the First Permanent Molar in Romanian Schoolchildren"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0176-1894","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Liana","family":"Beresescu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dental Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, 540139 T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1019-864X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gabriela Felicia","family":"Beresescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dental Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, 540139 T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3443-6497","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Daniela","family":"Esian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dental Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, 540139 T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3883-0547","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alexandru","family":"Vlasa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dental Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, 540139 T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Csilla","family":"Benedek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dental Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, 540139 T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Raluca","family":"Sabau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Private Practice, Dentral, Moldova St., no. 22, 540542 T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexandra Mihaela","family":"Stoica","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dental Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, 540139 T\u00e2rgu-Mure\u0219, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2022). 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