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This article presents a study to find the clinical signs and symptoms in pulp disease. The purpose of this study was to utilize and assess the disease classification which appeared to reflect most accurately the reaction of the pulp to chronic irritation from micro-organisms whilst investigating the relationship between the pathological condition of the pulp and any resulting signs or symptoms. The study was carried out on ninety-eight permanent teeth of patients examined and treated in the Dental School, Cardiff.

The overall eruption and dental disease status of a group of 1015 11-12-yr-old schoolchildren in South Wales is presented. The mean number of teeth erupted was 21.8 with a distribution pattern reflecting continuing eruption of teeth at this age. Almost equal numbers of contralateral and opposing tooth types were present with exceptions including maxillary canines and lateral incisors. DMFT, DMFS, and DFS scores were consistent with other recent studies. The mean plaque score was 2.44 and showed a normal distribution for the group. All children had gingivitis at one or more sites as evidenced by bleeding on probing, and again the distribution pattern was a normal one. The mean pocketing was 1.24 mm and there was little clinical evidence of chronic periodontitis. As expected, plaque and gingivitis showed a very high and significant correlation, with plaque and pocketing and gingivitis and pocketing having lower correlation coefficients which were nevertheless highly significant.