Abstract
Application of caries assessment spectrum and treatment (CAST) instrument for staging and evaluating treatment needs of an adult population suffering from dental carious lesion. Study was conducted with aim of applying CAST instrument for staging adult urban Indian population according to severity of carious lesion and treatment needs required. Cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 300 adult patients. After training session and calibration of examiner, all patients were examined for the caries experience and CAST codes were recorded on a structured proforma. Of 300 adult patients, 18% (54) adults have healthy dentition denoted by codes 0,1, and 2. 12 % and 15.3% adults were in reversible premorbidity stage (code 3) and morbidity stage (codes 4 and 5) respectively. The largest number of adults 29.7% were seen in serious morbidity stage (codes 6 and 7) followed by 21.3% adults in mortality stage (code 8) requiring either root canal treatment or extraction and replacement of teeth as treatment needs. CAST instrument has been found useful in staging adult population suffering with dental carious lesion and evaluating their treatment needs. Moreover, CAST is easy to apply for staging the carious lesion due its hierarchical structure and reporting results in an understandable manner.
Highlights
Dental caries is caused by imbalance between demineralization and remineralization process around the tooth surface
According to the developers of caries assessment spectrum and treatment (CAST) index and on the basis of epidemiological concept of health and disease, findings can be descried as healthy dentition denoted by codes 0,1, and 2, this was observed in our study in 18% (31 and 23) adults
Future studies are recommended to be done on a larger scale using CAST instrument, so that policy makers, health planners and health professionals at national, regional, and district levels have an appropriate data regarding the stages and treatment needs of the entire population and can make policies and plans
Summary
Dental caries is caused by imbalance between demineralization and remineralization process around the tooth surface. Reliable picture of a population suffering from a dental caries is prerequisite so that government and health institutions can develop an intervention and dental caries treatment programs in a planned manner. It is only possible if we have a complete caries assessment and detection instrument which covers total dental caries spectrum. Conclusion: CAST instrument has been found useful in staging adult population suffering with dental carious lesion and evaluating their treatment needs. Application of caries assessment spectrum and treatment instrument for staging and evaluating treatment needs of an adult population - A hospital based cross-sectional study.
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