Caries experience in a Norwegian urban population

DMF teeth were recorded in a random sample of 117 35‐year‐old citizens of Oslo. The mean number of DMF teeth was 25.7, reflecting a high caries experience in the population surveyed. The mean number of decayed teeth was 5.1, the majority being due to recurrent carious lesions. Only 61.2% of the total number of posterior carious teeth were observed clinically. The remaining lesions (38.8%) were diagnosed on bitewing radiographs. The mean number of missing teeth in the sample was 6.3, while the mean number of filled teeth was 18.9. This indicates that the subjects have had access to regular dental treatment. Females in the lower educational group had significantly more missing teeth and fewer filled teeth than females in the higher educational group. Similar differences could not be detected in males.