ABSTRACT
Aim: This study was to evaluate the prevalence of missing the first molar in South Canara district population. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 1000 patients attending the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore and rural satellite centers. Each patient was examined for missing the first molars on a dental chair under a good illumination using sterilized armamentarium. The patients who have missing the first molars were questioned with a standard questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of loss of the first molars in South Canara dis¬trict population is 42%. Of four first molars, mandibular right first molar loss (34.7%) is more prevalent and maxillary left first molar loss (4.6%) is least prevalent. Conclusion: The prevalence of missing the first molars in relation to etiology shows dental caries is the most common etiology of loss of the first molars (59.5%), followed by periodontitis (35.7%). The prevalence of missing the first molars in relation to occlusion of 420 patients, 140 cases had shown tilting of adjacent tooth, 80 cases had shown supraeruption. Dental caries is the common etiological factor for loss of the first molar.
KEYWORDS:Caries, Missing, Molars, Prevalence.