Caries Index Scores Research Articles

The Evaluation of Oral Health Condition and Oral and Dental Care in Children with Congenital Heart Disease.

Objective: Congenital heart disease (CHD) plays a key role in oral and dental health regarding its own impacts on teeth (i.e., enamel hypoplasia), infective endocarditis and choice of dental treatment. The purpose of this study's comparing the oral and dental health status in children with or without CHD is to contribute to the literature by determining the effects of CHD on oral and dental health. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted using a descriptive and correlational design and consisted of 581 children aged between 6 months and 18 years who were healthy (n = 364) or experienced CHD (n = 217). CHD-impacted children were classified according to their shunt and stenosis and then their saturation values were noted. In the intraoral examination, caries data (dmft/DMFT, PUFA/pufa), oral hygiene (OHI-S) and enamel defect (DDE) indices were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0 at a significance level of 0.05. Results: In our study, caries index scores of children with or without CHD in primary or permanent dentition were found to be similar. The mean OHI-S index (p < 0.001) and gingivitis findings (p = 0.047) of children with CHD had a higher prevalence than the healthy ones. The incidence of enamel defects was determined as 16.5% in CHD-affected children whereas an incidence rate of 4.7% was observed in healthy children. The mean saturation value of the participants with enamel defects (89 ± 8.9) was observed to be significantly lower (p = 0.03) than the patients with no enamel defects (95 ± 4.2). Conclusions: Whereas the caries index scores of CHD-affected children with a history of hypoxia in primary and permanent dentition were found to be similar to the healthy ones, children with CHD were observed to be more prone to enamel defects and periodontal diseases. Furthermore, considering the risk of infective endocarditis resulting from existing carious lesions and periodontal problems, it is highly important for pediatric cardiologists, pediatricians and pediatric dentists to collaborate in a multidisciplinary manner.

Assessing the Clinical Consequences of Untreated Caries in 8- to 10-Year-Old Children with Pufa Index

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the oral health conditions of 8- to 10-year-old students in the mixed dentition stage in Erzurum, Turkey, by determining their dental caries’ status and the soft tissue damages by untreated caries. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in two randomly selected schools in the residential areas populated predominantly by families with mid-and-low socioeconomic levels. A total of 586 children, 275 girls, and 365 boys with a mean age of 8.95 ± 0.8 participated in the study. Number of decayed, missing due to caries, and filled teeth in the permanent dentition/number of decayed and filled teeth in the primary dentition (DMFT/dft) and visible pulpal involvement (P/p), ulceration caused by dislocated tooth fragments (U/u), fistula (F/f) and abscess (A/a) (PUFA)/pufa indices are included in the clinical examination section of the study. Obtained data were analyzed with SPSS (IBM Corp. 2013, IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. Armonk, NY). Results: Our research revealed a DMFT score of 2.43 ± 1.7, dft 4.12 ± 2.7, pufa 0.75 ±1.2, PUFA 0.05± 0.24, a caries frequency of 96.1, PUFA/pufa frequency of 40.9, and untreated caries PUFA/pufa ratio was found as 13.3%. A significant difference with positive correlation was found between d and pufa scores ( P &lt; .01). Increasing DMFT, decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (DMFS) in the permanent dentition, and decreasing dft, decayed, and filled surfaces (dfs) in the primary dentition, and pufa scores with the age increment were found to be significant ( P &lt; .05). Conclusion: The frequency of soft tissue damage associated with untreated caries, caries index scores, and frequency of dental caries was found to be quite high in the study population consisting of children belonging to families with similar socioeconomic status.

Prevalence of dental caries and associated factors among 12\xa0years old students in Eritrea

BackgroundDental caries is one of the most prevalent diseases of childhood in developing countries. However, there is a paucity of epidemiological data on the prevalence and associated factors of dental caries in Eritrea. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of dental caries among 12 years old school children in Eritrea.MethodsA school based cross sectional study was conducted among 225 twelve years old students in two selected schools. One school from randomly selected urban and rural subzones of the country were selected. WHO adopted questionnaire and a standard checklist were used to collect relevant data. To assess dental caries, two examiners were calibrated by a certified dentist and inter observer agreement was calculated using the Cohen’s Kappa statistic (0.82). All data analysis was done using SPSS version 20.ResultsThe prevalence of dental caries was 78%, without significant difference between males (78%) and females (79%).The mean DMFT value was 2.50 (±2.21). The decayed component contributed 98.3% of the score as it had 2.44 (±1.2) share to the mean DMFT value. The first molar was the most affected tooth with a DMFT value of 1.55 (±1.36). The mean significant caries index score (SiC) was 4.97 (±1.9) which is higher than the upper limit of SiC value of 3 set by the WHO as a global average. More than half of the respondents had never visited a dentist and out of the students who had utilized a dental health facility, 82% of visits were due to dental pain while visits for regular checkups were cited by only 6.6% of the respondents.ConclusionDental caries was found to be a common public health problem among 12 years old Eritrean students. The prevalence of dental caries, mean DMFT and SiC scores were higher than the average score of other developing countries. Gaps in dental health service utilization, dental health practices and suboptimal water fluoride levels contribute to poor dental health among school children in Eritrea.

Evaluation of Dental Caries Among Preschool Children in Kathmandu- Using Significant Caries Index.

Dental caries among preschool children is common but there is scarcity of updated data about its prevalence among Nepalese preschool children. This study was conducted to evaluate prevalence, Significant Caries Index, Caries pattern, Restorative care index and Disparity ratio among preschool children of Kathmandu aged 3-6 years. A cross sectional study was conducted on 17 preschools of Kathmandu following WHO criteria. Data were analysed using SPSS 20 and descriptive statistics was applied. Prevalence of dental caries was 803 (55.6%) with a mean deft of 3.28±3.581 and Significant Caries Index score was 7.439. Caries pattern showed the most commonly decayed teeth were mandibular second molars followed by maxillary central incisors. The least affected teeth were mandibular lateral incisors. The restorative care index was 106 (7.32%) in the total sample size and 14 (2.86%) in the SiC and disparity ratio was 2.26. The SiC Index indicated high dental caries prevalence; severity rates and restorative care index indicated little experience of restorative treatment in preschool children of Kathmandu identifying the need for more targeted efforts to reach preschool children early to effectively address unmet oral health needs.

Caries Experience in Filipino Children with Cleft Lip and/or Palate from the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation, Philippines

Objective. This study aims to provide an overview and statistical data on the prevalence of dental caries and caries index scores in Filipino children from the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation Philippines, Incorporated (NCFPI). Methods. A retrospective quantitative descriptive study was undertaken based on pretreatment records of 332 children aged 2 to12 years, with cleft lip (CL), cleft palate (CP), or cleft lip and palate (CLP). Results. The prevalence of caries ranged from 81% to 100%. There were significant differences in dmft scores between the 2 to 5 year-olds and the 6 to 9 year-olds (p&lt;0.0001), and between the 6 to 9 year-olds and the 10 to 12 year-olds (p&lt;0.0001). There were also significant differences between the DMFT scores of the 6 to 9 year-olds and the 10 to 12 year-olds (p&lt;0.0001), between the CL and CP groups (p&lt;0.0001), and between the CL and CLP groups(p&lt;0.0001). There were no significant differences in dmft and DMFT scores between the males and females. Conclusion. There is high caries prevalence in children with CL, CP and CLP. Caries index scores are higher with increasing age. Poor oral hygiene and the presence of other predisposing factors increase their susceptibility to caries.

DENTAL CARIES EXPERIENCE AND TREATMENT NEEDS AMONG 12-YEAR-OLD SCHOOLCHILDREN IN CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU

Aim: To evaluate the dental caries experience and treatment needs among 12 year-old schoolchildren in Chennai. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 714 12-year-old schoolchildren in Chennai. A cluster sampling methodology was used. Each school, which was selected through simple random sampling, was considered a cluster. New clusters were included until the desired sample size was achieved. Dentition status and treatment need index from the World Health Organization (WHO) oral health assessment form were used. From the raw data obtained, significant caries index score was calculated. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: At 12 years of age, the prevalence of dental caries was 31% with a mean decay of 0.57±1.03. Females had a higher level of caries than males. The “decayed” component was the biggest contributor to the decayed missing and filled teeth index. The highest treatment need was one surface restoration. Conclusion: The caries experience of 12-year-old children was low as compared to the WHO - “recommended” values. Effective oral health promotion strategies need to be implemented to further improve the dental health of schoolchildren in Chennai city. Key words: Dental caries, Prevalence, Schoolchildren, Treatment needs

Cariogenic microbiota of children under chemotherapy: A pilot study.

To analyze the cariogenic microbiota of children who are under antineoplastic therapy. Twenty-seven patients undergoing cancer treatment in the Pediatric Unit of Mato Grosso Cancer Hospital were selected. The inclusion criteria of volunteers were being under chemotherapy in the saliva collection period, age between 2 and 18 years, collaborate with the protocol for clinical examination and saliva collection, and responsible have given their written consent. For the realization of lactobacilli and Streptococcus mutans count in the patients' saliva, respectively, Dentalcult I and II (LaborClin; ) kits were used. Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher's exact tests were used to assess the association of the variables age group, prevalence of lactobacilli and S. mutans, diagnosis of patients, presence and level of decay of patients defined by decayed, filled, and missing teeth (DMFT)/dmft indexes with a significance level of 5%. The group of patients consisted of 27 children, 15 males, and 12 females; 44% were aged between 6 and 10 years; 61% had present or past history of caries (dmft/DMFT >0); 48% had low value for Dentalcult I; 59% presented value grade 0 to Dentalcult II; and 63% were diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia. There was a high prevalence of dental caries in the study population but low rates of S. mutans and lactobacilli in the saliva of the children. Lactobacilli rate was significantly associated with caries index scores, and the prevalence of caries was directly associated with the age group of the children.

Risk indicators for root caries in institutionalized elders.

To investigate the risk indicators for root caries in institutionalized elders. Nonfrail elders living in 21 residential elderly homes who had at least 5 teeth with exposed roots were examined in this cross-sectional study. The dental examinations were conducted by one trained dentist in the elderly homes using a portable clinic light, mouth mirror, and dental explorer. Two-level logistic regression analyses, one using the presence of decay and the other using decay/filling in the root surface as the dependent variable, were conducted to study the relationship between root caries and a number of selected subject-level and site-level factors. A total of 306 elders with a mean age of 78.8 years were examined. Their mean DS-root and DFS-root scores were 1.3 and 2.1, respectively. Their mean root caries index score was 3.92. Results from the regression analyses revealed a positive correlation between the caries status of the root surfaces in the same subject (ICC1 =0.37, ICC2 =0.29, P < 0.001). Root surfaces with visual plaque, with denture contact, with more gingival recession, and in the upper anterior region were found to have a higher chance of being affected by root caries. Presence of plaque, proximity to denture, and gingival recession are important site-level risk indicators for root caries in institutionalized elders. More attention should be paid to plaque control on exposed root surfaces and avoiding placement of denture components close to roots so as to lower the risk of root caries in elders.

A randomized clinical trial comparing the impact of different oral hygiene protocols and sealant applications on plaque, gingival, and caries index scores

This prospective randomized clinical trial investigated the impact of different tooth brushing strategies and sealant application on patients with fixed appliances: plaque, gingival, caries index scores, periodontal parameters, microbial, and molecular biological parameters were assessed. Fifty-five male and 63 female patients aged 11-15 years were enrolled in this 12-week, four-arm parallel-group trial. Patients of group 1 used a Sonicare FlexCare electric brush, patients of group 2 used a manual (elmex interX short head) plus interdental (Curaprox CPS 15) brush, and patients of group 3 and 4 used a manual brush only. The teeth of patients in groups 1, 2, and 3 were sealed with a filled resin (ProSeal). Patients were advised to brush twice daily and measured time spent brushing mornings and evenings [tooth brushing duration (TBD)]. Plaque (PIB, TQHI, MAPI) and gingival index (PBI) as well as caries index (DMFT/DMFS) scores were assessed at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. TBD did not differ significantly between patients using the electric or manual brush only (between 197 and 209 seconds) but was longer when using the combination of two manual brushes. TBD was slightly longer in the evenings. There was no gender difference. Although TBD was longer for the combination group, we failed to demonstrate any beneficial effect on outcome parameters for this group. No differences between sealed or unsealed tooth surfaces or for use of a manual or electric brush were observed.

Prevalence of early childhood caries among 3-5 year old pre-schoolers in schools of Marathahalli, Bangalore.

Dental caries among preschool children is still a major public health problem in many developing countries including India. Hence the aim of the present study was to find out the prevalence of Early Childhood Caries among 3-5 year old pre-schoolers in schools of Marathahalli, Bangalore. A cross sectional study was conducted on 717 pre-schoolers in 6 schools of Marathahalli. Clinical examination was performed and deft index was recorded using Gruebell's criteria. Early Childhood Caries was diagnosed using Early Childhood Caries Diagnostic Criteria, consistent with the NIDCR workshop statement. Data was analysed using SPSS 15.0 and descriptive statistics was applied. Chi-square test was used to find out the significant differences. The level of significance was taken at P value < 0.05. Prevalence of early childhood caries was 40% with a mean deft of 1.89 (+3.3) and Significant Caries Index score was 5.51. 44.8% of 3 year old had Early Childhood Caries, 35% of 4 year old children and 41% of 5 year old had Early Childhood Caries. Almost, all of deft was due to untreated caries. The results of the present study calls for a need to focus on pre-schoolers' oral health and parental education for prevention and early detection of Early Childhood Caries. A high Significant Caries Index in this study population indicates a more targeted approach for high risk pre-schoolers.

Genotyping of Streptococcus mutans by using arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction in children with Down Syndrome

The aim of this study was to compare the caries prevalence between Down Syndrome (DS) and non-DS children and to investigate the difference between the genotypes of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) colonized in both DS and non-DS groups. Sixty children with DS and 64 non-DS children aged between 7 and 12 years old were included to this study. All erupted teeth were evaluated according to the criteria recommended by the World Health Organization. Unstimulated saliva samples were carried out from the children and cultivated on S. mutans selective Tryptone-yeast-cystine (TYC) agar with 0.2 U/ml bacitracin and 15% sucrose. Molecular typing of S. mutans strains was performed by using arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) with OPA-05 primer. All data were analysed by using SPSS (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) 11.0 software program for windows. The caries index scores were found significantly lower in DS individuals than the non-DS group (p < 0.05). The salivary S. mutans levels between DS and non-DS groups did not show significant difference (p > 0.05). The difference between dental caries and salivary S. mutans levels also was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). According to the results of the AP-PCR typing, all profiles of S. mutans which colonized in DS group were different from the control group. The relationship between these different profiles and dental caries prevalence was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The profiles of S. mutans colonized in DS group might be a reason of low caries prevalence.

Dental characteristics of fibrous dysplasia and McCune-Albright syndrome.

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a skeletal disorder often associated with McCune-Albright syndrome, a rare multisystem disorder caused by GNAS1 gene mutation. FD frequently affects the craniofacial bones, including the maxilla and the mandible; nevertheless, its effects on dental tissues and the implications for dental care remain unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize the dental features associated with FD and the reaction of affected bones to routine dental therapy. Study design Thirty-two patients with FD underwent dental evaluation and endocrine testing as part of the diagnosis of FD/McCune-Albright syndrome. Any dental anomalies were recorded, and the associations between endocrinopathies and dental anomalies were analyzed statistically by means of the paired t test. Eighty-four percent had FD in the maxilla and/or mandible; endocrine dysfunction; and/or renal phosphate wasting. The caries index scores were 2.9 (ages 4-17 years) and 9.6 (ages 18-50 years). Malocclusion (81%) and other prevalent dental anomalies (41%) included tooth rotation, oligodontia, and taurodontism. The expansion of the maxilla or mandible by FD did not distort the dental arch curvature, and routine dental therapies such as extractions, restorations, and orthodontic treatment did not exacerbate FD lesions. Maxillomandibular FD was associated with higher rates of caries and malocclusion than were present in healthy patients. Furthermore, patients with FD did not require special dental management and were able to undergo routine dental care without an exacerbation of FD lesions.

Root caries in an optimally fluoridated and a high-fluoride community.

The purpose of this study was to measure the prevalence and distribution of root caries in two New Mexico communities. One community, Deming, had a natural fluoride concentration of 0.7 mg/L in its drinking water, optimum for its climate. The other, Lordsburg, was naturally fluoridated at 3.5 mg/L, five times the optimum. Dental examinations were carried out on 151 adults in Deming (mean age, 39.8 years) and 164 in Lordsburg (mean age, 43.2 years); only persons born in the communities were included. Prevalence of root caries was 23.8% in Deming and 7.3% in Lordsburg; mean number of lesions was 0.69 in Deming and 0.08 in Lordsburg (p less than 0.0001). Although there was more gingival recession in Lordsburg, Root Caries Index scores were five times greater in Deming. Root caries was more prevalent in older age groups, and was correlated with coronal caries experience in both communities. Root caries was correlated with plaque and calculus scores in Deming only. Logistic regression showed that city of residence was the major predictor of root caries, with other significant predictors being age, education, gingival recession, and loss of periodontal attachment. When combined with previous research, these results confirm that root caries experience is directly related to the fluoride concentration in the drinking water.

Experimental caries in man.

The purpose of the present study was to develop a method for short-term caries trials in man, using an experimental model already employed in periodontal research. Twelve students were given prophylaxis and instruction to practice meticulous oral hygiene until Plaque Index and Gingival Index approached zero. The carious state of the bucco-gingival enamel areas, excluding molars, was evaluated using a dissection microscope. The cleaned and dried tooth surfaces were scored according to the Caries Index system. During a period of 23 days without oral hygiene 6 participants performed 9 daily mouthrinses with 10 ml of a 50% sucrose solution. At the termination of this period the sucrose group demonstrated a higher mean Caries Index and a greater number of new early lesions than the six control subjects. The mean Plaque Index scores were higher in the sucrose group, whereas the Gingival Index scores were similar for both groups. Smears of plaque showed no significant differences in the percentage distribution of various types of microorganisms. After 30 days of oral hygiene and daily mouthrinses with 0.2 % NaF, fair agreement was found between the Caries Index scores of the two groups. Similar observations were made after a second hygiene and fluoride period. The results demonstrate that it is possible to produce detectable carious alterations within 23 days by abolishment of oral hygiene and frequent sucrose additions and that these alterations are reversible.