Decayed, Missing, Filled Surfaces Research Articles

Dental disease prevalence among methamphetamine and heroin users in an urban setting: A pilot study

Researchers have reported rampant caries among methamphetamine users. The authors investigated the prevalence of dental disease and associated risk behaviors in methamphetamine users compared with those in heroin users. This pilot project was a cross-sectional study of an ongoing cohort of young adult injection-drug users (IDUs) in San Francisco. Participants completed an oral health questionnaire administered by a research assistant, and dentists performed clinical examinations to record the participants' data in terms of scores on the decayed-missing-filled surfaces (DMFS) index, presence of residual roots, scores on an oral hygiene index and whether any salivary hypofunction was observed. The prevalence of dental disease among 58 young adult IDUs was strikingly high compared with that in the U.S. general population; however, the authors found no difference in the level of dental disease between users of methamphetamine and users of heroin. The mean DMFS score and number of decayed surfaces exceeded 28 in both groups. Although the authors detected no difference in dental disease between methamphetamine and heroin users, they found a high prevalence of caries and caries-associated behaviors in the sample of young adult IDUs. Given the high level of dental disease observed in this population of young adult IDUs, one next step may be to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of providing low-intensity preventive measures (such as distribution of chlorhexidine rinses or xylitol gum or application of fluoride varnishes) through outreach workers.

Comparative efficacy of dentifrice containing sodium monofluorophosphate + calcium glycerophosphate and non-fluoridated dentifrice: A randomized, double-blind, prospective study

Background:The efficacy of fluoridated dentifrices in caries prevention has been well documented and research into various formulations continues for a more effective dentifrice. This study evaluated the anti-caries and anti-plaque efficacy of a dentifrice containing sodium monofluorophosphate (1000 ppm) and calcium glycerophosphate, and compared it with a non-fluoridated dentifrice.Materials and Methods:A total of 595 school children (12–15 years) were divided into test (302 children) and control (293 children) groups. The test group used the dentifrice containing sodium monofluorophosphate (1000 ppm) and calcium glycerophosphate, whereas the control group was given a placebo dentifrice. Oral examination for dental caries and plaque assessment was carried out at the start of the study and the children were followed up semiannually up to 18 months. Data were analyzed using repeated-measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by one-way ANOVA.Results:The values for decayed missing filled teeth (DMFT) increased from baseline to 18 month examination from 4.43±2.03 and 4.67±2.25 (P=0.175) to 5.84±2.29 and 5.13±2.30 (P=0.001) for control and test groups, respectively. Similarly, the increase in decayed missing filled surface (DMFS) values were from 6.42±4.10 and 7.06±4.77 (P=0.082) to 8.64±4.51 and 7.92±5.07 (P=0.095) for test and control groups, respectively. The mean DMFT and DMFS values increased for both the groups; however, the increase was less in test group as compared to control group. The baseline plaque score reduced from 2.94±0.72 and 2.91±0.72 (P=0.679), respectively, for control and test groups to 1.33±0.46 and 0.91±0.38 (P<0.001), respectively, at 18 month examination.Conclusion:Results revealed that the test dentifrice was effective in inhibiting the progression of plaque and control of dental caries as compared to the placebo dentifrice.

Caries-preventive and remineralizing effect of fluoride gel in orthodontic patients after 2 years

Patients with orthodontic appliances exhibit a higher caries risk, but they are often excluded from preventive studies. Thus, the aim of this observational study was to assess the caries-preventive and remineralizing effect of a high-fluoride gel in orthodontic patients. Two hundred twenty-one orthodontic patients (age, 6-19years; mean, 13.1 ± 2.3; n = 104 with use of a 1.25% fluoride gel weekly at home, 117 participants without) were recruited and followed for 2years, recording caries (decayed/missing/filled teeth (DMFT)/decayed/missing/filled surface (DMFS), active/inactive lesions), orthodontic treatment, use of fluorides, plaque and gingivitis. Baseline values regarding demographic and clinical parameters were equivalent for the 75 participants using fluoride gel and the 77 individuals of the control group who completed the study. The initial plaque and gingivitis values (approximal plaque index (API), 37% ± 34 and 42% ± 39, resp.; papillary bleeding index (PBI), 19% ± 28 and 22% ± 27, resp.) deteriorated slightly during the 2-year study (API, 54%/56%; PBI, 25%/28%). The increase in carious defects or fillings was minimal in both groups (fluoride, 0.75 DMFT ± 1.2, 1.27 DMFS ± 1.9; control, 0.99 ± 1.3 and 1.62 ± 2.6, resp.) without reaching statistical significance (p = 0.12 for DMFT, 0.44 for DMFS). The main statistically significant effect of the fluoride use was the reversal of active initial lesions diagnosed (fluoride group, -0.96 ± 1.82; control, -0.19 ± 2.0, p = 0.004), while the number of inactive initial lesions increased (2.3 ± 2.1 and 1.7 ± 2.1, resp.; p = 0.02). In conclusion, the weekly application of a fluoride gel in orthodontic patients can reduce their caries activity. Initial caries lesions in orthodontic patients can be inactivated by weekly fluoride gel use at home.

Role of bitewing in enhancing the assessment of DMFS index in a group of Indian adolescents

Caries epidemiological studies based on clinical examination alone tend to underestimate proximal caries. This study aims to determine the additional value of radiographic examination (bitewings) compared to clinical examination in assessing posterior proximal caries. It also aims to determine the radiographic multiplication/adjusting/correction factors by which a clinical decayed surface (D-S) and decayed-missing-filled surfaces (DMFS) score could be multiplied, to obtain an actual D-S and DMFS score. Two groups of 100 subjects each, in the age range of 16-20 years, were examined clinically for caries and their DMFS index recorded. Both groups were subjected to bitewing radiographs to detect the clinically undiagnosed posterior proximal caries. The radiographic adjusting factors were determined for group A. To check its repeatability and thus its usefulness, radiographic correction factor was determined for Group B. The results were statistically analyzed with the use of means, standard deviations, regression equation and "Z" test. Level of significance was determined at P > 0.05. A significant number of clinically undetected proximal caries was diagnosed with the help of bitewing radiographs. The difference between the radiographic adjusting/correction factor for D-S and DMFS score for the two groups was statistically not significant (P > 0.05) thus verifying the repeatability of the radiographic correction factors. The radiographic correction factors can be used to obtain a more precise estimate of true caries prevalence in a particular study population without having to subject all individuals to radiographic examination.

Can coffee prevent caries?

Aim:To determine the anti-carious effect of coffee in humans. Coffee represents one of the most consumed products by the population.Materials and Methods:A random sample of 1000 individuals, of both sexes, who consumed only coffee as a beverage and who visited the Out-Patient Department of KLE Society's Institute of Dental Sciences, with a dental complaint and no history of any major illness, were considered as subjects. The patients' histories with regard to the coffee intake, such as, period of consumption, frequency of consumption, whether taken with milk or wihout milk, with sugar or without sugar, and the brand make, was noted. History of the type of diet, consumption of sweets, periodicity of brushing, and whether they had undergone fluoride applications were also noted. A thousand patients who consumed beverages other than coffee were taken as the control. Results:The results showed that coffee most consumed was roasted coffee, and the frequency on an average was about three cups per day, for an average period of 35 years. The Decayed/Missing/Filled Surface (DMFS) scores varied from 2.9, in subjects who drank black coffee, to 5.5 in subjects who consumed coffee together with sweeteners and creaming agents. The DMFS score was 3.4 in subjects who consumed coffee together with milk but no sugar. The DMFS score of the control subjects was 4, indicating that coffee if consumed alone had anticaries action, but in the presence of additives the antibacterial and anticaries action was totally minimized. Conclusion:Thus coffee can help in prevention of dental caries if consumed without additives.

Dental Caries Increments and Related Factors in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

The aim of this study was to analyse possible associations between caries increments and selected caries determinants in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and their age- and sex-matched non-diabetic controls, over 2 years. A total of 63 (10–15 years old) diabetic and non-diabetic pairs were examined for dental caries, oral hygiene and salivary factors. Salivary flow rates, buffer effect, concentrations of mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, yeasts, total IgA and IgG, protein, albumin, amylase and glucose were analysed. Means of 2-year decayed/missing/filled surface (DMFS) increments were similar in diabetics and their controls. Over the study period, both unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates remained significantly lower in diabetic children compared to controls. No differences were observed in the counts of lactobacilli, mutans streptococci or yeast growth during follow-up, whereas salivary IgA, protein and glucose concentrations were higher in diabetics than in controls throughout the 2-year period. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that children with higher 2-year DMFS increments were older at baseline and had higher salivary glucose concentrations than children with lower 2-year DMFS increments. Likewise, higher 2-year DMFS increments in diabetics versus controls were associated with greater increments in salivary glucose concentrations in diabetics. Higher increments in active caries lesions in diabetics versus controls were associated with greater increments of dental plaque and greater increments of salivary albumin. Our results suggest that, in addition to dental plaque as a common caries risk factor, diabetes-induced changes in salivary glucose and albumin concentrations are indicative of caries development among diabetics.

Prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in Mexican American children aged 5 to 17 years: results from southwestern HHANES, 1982-83. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

This paper describes the estimated prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in 2,550 children, 5 through 17 years of age, who resided in five southwestern states of the United States and were examined in the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) of 1982-84 of the National Center for Health Statistics. Dental caries in the Mexican American children was predominantly a disease of occlusal surfaces of molars; few smooth surfaces of posterior and anterior teeth were affected by caries. This intra-oral distribution of dental caries strongly supports the use of fissure sealants as a preventive procedure. Filled tooth surfaces contributed about 66 per cent of the total DMFS (decayed, missing, filled surfaces) scores. The analysis also shows that about 50 per cent of the 17 year old Mexican Americans had five or more filled or decayed teeth. Mild gingivitis was prevalent (76.9 per cent) in the Mexican American children.