Investigation of the Radiological Status of First Permanent Molars in a Turkish Subpopulation

Objective: Missing or filled first permanent molars (FPMs) affects occlusal status and oral health. This study aims to determine the prevalence of missing, restored FPMs (filling, root canal treatment, prosthetic restoration), and dental implants in the first molar region. Methods: In our study, panoramic radiographs of 1765 female and 1230 male patients were evaluated. Patients were divided into three age groups: 15-34 years old, 35-54 years old, and >55 years old. The maxillary and mandibular FPMs status is divided into two groups presence (caries, filled, root treatment, prosthetic restoration, root treatment + prosthetic restoration, and healthy) or absence (empty, radix relicta, dental implant, and dental bridge). Results: In the evaluated images, 36.92% of maxillary FPMs and 27.39% of mandibular FPMs were healthy. FPMs on the right or left side of the jaws did not affect their clinical status, while their presence on the lower or upper jaw affected their clinical status. Conclusion: Most of the FPMs (67.85%) were with caries or restorations. The number of healthy FPMs decreases with increasing age. The study indicates an important result regarding protecting FPMs and preventive dentistry.