Mean DMFS Scores Research Articles

Caries prevalence of 35-year-old Oslo citizens in 1973 and 1984.

DMF teeth and surfaces were recorded in a random sample of 35-yr-old Oslo citizens (born 1949). The index values were related to selected independent variables: sex, years at school, oral hygiene status (OHI-S), periodontal conditions (PI), use of interdental cleaning devices and dental visiting habits. Data from the present investigation were analysed together with data from a similar study on 35-yr-olds in 1973 in order to detect possible changes over time. The mean DMFS-score in the present investigation was 85, indicating a high caries experience, mainly due to a high F-component. A statistically significant increase in the number of decayed surfaces was demonstrated concomitant with an increase in PI- and OHI-S scores. There were more carious surfaces among irregular dental visitors than among the regular visitors. No statistically significant differences in DMF-scores from 1973 to 1984 were detected, but there was a statistically significant reduction in the prevalence of untreated caries during this period. Furthermore, an increase in the number of filled surfaces from 1973 to 1984 and a reduction in the number of missing surfaces were registered. This may indicate a tendency towards restoring instead of extracting carious teeth during the last decade.

Examiner consistency and group balance at baseline of a caries clinical trial

Two experienced investigators (G.L. & H.H.) independently examined 629 children in grades 6-9 (ages 10-17 yr) for baseline DMFS data in a clinical trial of a caries preventive. The examiners used the same written and visual (slides) criteria for dental caries diagnosis, but did not standardize or calibrate their methods before or during the survey. Results showed overall mean DMFS scores for Examiners 1 and 2 that were remarkably similar, 8.35 and 8.16, respectively; coefficients of variation were identical, C.V. = 87%. The reliability coefficient for the two sets of data showed that only 4% of the variability in DMFS scores was due to examiner inconsistency and other measurement errors. The findings indicate that, without undergoing clinical calibration, the two experienced examiners attained a high level of agreement in scoring dental caries merely by adhering to clearly defined written and visual criteria. Only the 308 children in the 6th grade (ages 10-14 yr) participated in the study (children in grades 7-9 were a reference population). Participants were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. The allocation procedure produced mean DMFS scores for Groups I and II of 7.87 and 6.17 (Examiner 1) and 8.07 and 6.41 (Examiner 2), respectively. The mean scores differed by about 21% (II compared with I) for each examiner. Both differences were clinically and statistically significant (P less than 0.05). Randomized assignment had generated an imbalance of baseline DMF scores by group.

Posttreatment benefits from participation in a school-based fluoride mouthrinsing program: results after up to 7 years of rinsing.

The caries prevalence of 7th- to 9th-grade junior high school students (approximate age 12–15 years) who had previously participated in a weekly 0.2% neutral NaF mouthrinsing program as elementary school children was compared with that of similarly aged children from the same schools who were examined before the mouthrinsing program began. After participation in the program for 5–7 years, the mean DMFS score for children in these grades had decreased from 7.37 to 3.89, a reduction of 47.2%. The greatest reduction, 78.9%, occurred in proximal surfaces. The inception of an effect only after the program was instituted, the dose-related response, and the specificity of the response to treatment support the conclusion that a posttreatment fluoride effect is responsible for the declining caries prevalence.

Dental caries prevalence in children with a diet free of refined sugar.

A study of the caries and dental hygiene status of 73 children living in the Synanon community revealed a mean DMF-S score at 0.53 for the 5-10 year old group and 3.33 for the 11-17 year old group. In spite of poor oral hygiene, 53 per cent of the children were caries-free and none of the children was missing permanent teeth. The children had consumed a diet free of refined carbohydrates for five years and had received optimal fluoride supplementation since birth or joining Synanon.

Supervised weekly rinsing with a 0.2 percent neutral NaF solution: final results of a demonstration program after six school years.

The results of a school-based fluoride mouthrinsing program in the elementary schools of a Long Island, New York community (F less than or equal to 0.1 ppm) was described. Children enrolled in this continuing program rinse once a week for 60 seconds with a 0.2 percent neutral NaF solution. Kindergarteners rinse with 5.0 ml.; children in the first through sixth grade rinse with 10 ml. Program personnel mix and distribute the rinse to the classrooms. Rinsing is supervised by homeroom teachers. A random sample of 125 children from each grade level (approximately 750 children) annually receive visual-tactile caries examinations from the same examiner. Mean caries prevalence scores after participation in the rinsing program are compared to the caries prevalence of children that were examined in 1975, before the program began. There has been 170 scheduled rinse sessions during six years. By the sixth-year examinations, first graders rinsed for one year (as kindergarteners), second graders for two years, etc. All children who were examined began participation in the program as kindergarteners. The findings after six years of the rinsing program included: 1. There was a 54.1 percent reduction in the mean DMFT caries prevalence score and a 55.2 percent reduction in the mean DMFS score. 2. The greatest percentage caries reduction, 68.8 percent, occurred for proximal surfaces, and the greatest absolute reduction occurred for occlusal surfaces. 3. The percentage of children with a caries-free permanent dentition increased from 43.5 percent to 66.3 percent. Of those children with caries, more were in the low caries category (DMFS = 1-4) compared to children who were examined before the rinsing program began.

Dental health of young Vietnamese immigrants.

About 3000 refugees from Vietnam have come to Norway in the last 5 years. A survey, including a clinical and radiographic examination for caries and gingival health, was carried out on 142 refugees. They were aged from 2 to 18 years and were examined within 6 weeks of arrival in Norway. The mean dmfs score of subjects 2-5 years old was 23.9, for subjects 6-11, dmfs was 12.4 and DMFS 7.7, and for subjects 12-18, DMFS was 20.0. The dmf/DMF scores were mainly composed of caries grades 3 and 4 (dentin caries or caries with pulpal involvement), and teeth missing or indicated for extraction. Only eight subjects had restorations, and these were often of poor quality. All subjects over 6 years had gingivitis (GBI 62%). About 10% had enamel hypoplasias on permanent anterior teeth. Dental abscesses and periapical areas indicated an acute treatment need, and most subjects were in urgent need of restorative treatment. Average time required for treatment of 12-18-year-old patients is estimated to be 7-10 hours, about four times that required for Norwegian schoolchildren. Dental examination of newly arrived Vietnamese refugees is recommended.

A 2-year report on caries prevention by fluoride varnishes in a community with fluoridated water.

The benefit of semi-annual applications of sodium fluoride varnish (Duraphat) and silane fluoride varnish (Fluor Protector) was studied in 11-13 year-old children with life-long exposure to fluoridated drinking water (1-1.2 parts/10(6)). Annual clinical and radiographic examinations were made on 67 children in the Duraphat group and 71 children in the Fluor Protector group. Fluoride varnish was applied semi-annually using the half-mouth technique. At the end of 2 years, the mean overall DMFS-increments on the control side and test side of the Duraphat group were 5.0 and 3.8 (p less than 0.01), respectively, and of the Fluor Protector group 3.7 and 3.3 (NS). The caries reductions were 24% and 12%, respectively. Since there were no differences between initial mean DMFS scores of the groups, it was assumed that lower increments in the Fluor Protector group were due to Fluoride ions crossing the midline and providing protection on the control side as well. When increments in the Duraphat control side and the Fluor Protector test side were compared, the caries reduction of Fluor Protector was 35% (p less than 0.01). Fluoride varnishes provide additional benefit even when fluoride intake from drinking water is optimal.

Evaluation of a combination of self-administered fluoride procedures for the control of dental caries in a nonfluoride area: findings after four years

Nearly all children who attend elementary school (grades K through 6) in a rural community have participated since 1972 in a school-based caries preventive program consisting of daily ingestion of a 1-mg fluoride tablet and weekly rinsing with a 0.2% sodium fluoride solution. 3they also regularly receive toothbrushes and a fluoride dentifrice for use at home. Examinations conducted after four years showed that the prevalence of dental caries among continuous participants, 7 through 12 years of age, was reduced by 35% compared with baseline findings; mean DMFS scores in 1972 and 1976 were 5.39 and 3.49, respectively. The preventive program inhibited decay in all three types of surfaces: approximal surfaces received about twice the relative protection against decay (70%) as buccolingual surfaces (34%) and more than three times as much as occlusal surfaces (22%). A comparison of estimates of four-year increments of decay taken from cross-sectional data at the baseline and actual increments from the 1972 and 1976 examinations showed that, for children ages 6 through 15, the incremental DMFS score was 41% lower during the period of the program than before its initiation. Findings in older children (ages 13 through 15) in 1976 who had stopped participation when they left elementary school at about age 12 showed evidence of strong posttreatment effects--as great as 31% fewer DMFS for 14-year-old children.

Increment of dental caries among Finnish dental students during a period of 2 years

The purpose of the study was to estimate the increment of dental caries among dental students in Helsinki, who acquired good knowledge of caries prevention during their studies. The group (59 students) was examined twice with an interval of 20.2 +/- 4.1 months. Clinical findings, augmented with bitewing radiographs and an orthopantomogram, were recorded separately for each tooth surface, and individual DMFS and DS index scores were computed. In addition, the students were interviewed with regard to oral hygiene, topical fluoride application, and dietary habits. The mean DMFS and DS index scores at the first examination were 45.0 and 9.1, respectively. At the second examination, DMFS was 46.4 and the number of new decayed surfaces per student 0.54/year. Both the latter values indicated that caries progression was slow. The increment of dental caries among the dental students was much smaller than that observed earlier among other groups of university students in Finland. Further evidence that caries progression among the dental students was slow was provided by the finding that of the 318 incipient caries lesions recorded at the first examination, no more than 11 had developed into clinical caries by 20 months.

Comparisons of caries prevalence of children with different daily toothbrushing frequencies

Clinical caries examinations, supplemented by bite-wing radiographs, were conducted on 290 schoolchildren. The children ranged from 12 to 15 years of age and were residents of a fluoride-deficient community in New York State. The children were divided into two groups based upon their stated daily toothbrushing frequency, namely, those brushing once or less/day and those brushing twice or more/day. Mean DMFS and DMFT scores were recorded for children in both categories. A trend was noted that more frequent brushing was associated with less caries activity. For females and male-females combined the differences in mean DMFS and DMFT scores between those children brushing once a day or less. The caries scores for males in these two brushing groups were marginally significant (P less than .05). Ninety percent of the children used fluoride-containing dentifrices. The inverse relationship between brushing frequency and caries activity may be related to the more frequent fluoride contact when the children brush.

Combined effect of trace elements and fluorine on caries.

Caries examinations of 251 children aged 12 to 14, from two Ohio towns that use water supplies with high contents of boron and strontium showed a mean DMFS score of 3.56 compared to a score of 5.54 in a control group of 338 children. Findings suggest that the significantly lower caries prevalence in the former group is related to the boron and strontium content of the water rather than a 0.2 ppm difference in the fluorine level.