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Indices Used For Caries

The document describes the DMFT index, which is used to assess dental caries experience. It was introduced in 1938 and involves examining all 28 permanent teeth to record the number that are decayed (D), missing due to caries (M), and filled (F). The scores are summed as DMF scores for each tooth type and then averaged for an overall DMFT index. It has limitations like not indicating risk and being invalid for older patients. Variations include the DMFS index, which examines tooth surfaces, and indices for primary teeth like deft. Other indices described include the plaque index, which assesses gingival plaque thickness.

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Ghouthamee Nair
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58 views35 pages

Indices Used For Caries

The document describes the DMFT index, which is used to assess dental caries experience. It was introduced in 1938 and involves examining all 28 permanent teeth to record the number that are decayed (D), missing due to caries (M), and filled (F). The scores are summed as DMF scores for each tooth type and then averaged for an overall DMFT index. It has limitations like not indicating risk and being invalid for older patients. Variations include the DMFS index, which examines tooth surfaces, and indices for primary teeth like deft. Other indices described include the plaque index, which assesses gingival plaque thickness.

Uploaded by

Ghouthamee Nair
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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DECAYED MISSING FILLED

INDEX (DMF)
DMFT Index

 Was introduced by Henry Klien, Carrole


E.Palmer and Knutson J.W in 1938
Method

 Applied to permanent teeth


 D…………..decayed teeth
 M…………..missing due to caries
 F…………….previously filled teeth
Method

 All the 28 teeth are examined


 The teeth that are not included are:
-Third molars
- Un-erupted teeth
- Congenitally missing
- Supernumerary
-Teeth removed for any other reason than caries
- Teeth restored for any other reason other than
caries example…..trauma or cosmetic purposes
- primary tooth retained with the permanent
successor erupted
Instruments
Criteria for the
Identification of Caries
 Lesion is clinically visible
 Explorer tip can penetrate deep into soft
yielding material
 There is discoloration or loss of translucency
 The explorer tip in a pit or fissure catches or
resists removal after pressure on insertion
PRINCIPLES & RULES
Principles & Rules

 No tooth is counted more than once


 D, M or F teeth should be recorded separately
 When counting the decayed teeth, also count those
teeth which have restorations with recurrent decay
 Care must be taken to list the missing teeth
 A tooth may have many restorations but is counted
as ONE
 Deciduous teeth are not included
 A tooth is considered to be erupted when the
occlusal surface or incisal edge is totally exposed or
can be exposed be gently reflecting the gingival
tissue
WHO MODIFICATIONS
WHO Modification

 All third molars are included


 Temporary restorations are considered as D
 Only carious cavities are considered as D,
initial lesions ( chalky spots, stained fissures)
are not considered
EXAMINATION METHOD FOR
PERMANENT TEETH ONLY
D

 Indicates the no of permanent teeth that are


decayed
 Remember that a tooth can be counted only
once
 Cannot be counted as decayed and filled
M

 Indicated the no of missing permanent teeth


due to decay
 The teeth which are badly decayed that they
are advised for extraction are counted as
missing
 History must be taken to identify that teeth
have been lost due to caries
F

 Indicates the no of permanent teeth that


have been attacked by the caries, and now
restored fully and functionally good
 Tooth may have several filling fillings but is
counted as ONE
CALCULATION OF INDEX
1:Individual DMFT

 Identify each component separately


 Add each component separately than add all
subgroups.
 Then add them
 D+M+F = DMFT
2:Group Average

 Total D, M ,F for each individual , then divide


the total DMF by the no of individuals in the
group i.e
 Average DMFT= total DMFT
 total no of persons
LIMITATIONS
Limitations

 Don’t indicate the no of teeth that are at risk


 Can be invalid in older patients because
become lost for the reasons other than caries
 Can be misleading in children because teeth
may be lost for orthodontic reason
 Not significant in the root caries
DMFS
 Applied only to permanent teeth
 D= Decayed teeth surfaces
 M= Missing teeth surfaces
 F= Filled teeth surfaces
Advantages
 More sensitive
Disadvantages
 Takes longer time
 May require radiographs for accurate
assessment.
Surfaces Examined

 For Posterior Teeth: Five Surfaces


Facial,Lingual,Mesial,Distal and Occlusal

 For Anterior Teeth: Four Surfaces


Facial,Lingual,Mesial,Distal
Calculations
If Third Molars are not included
 Total surfaces for posterior teeth= 80
 Total Surfaces for anterior teeth =48
 Total=128
Rest of the calculations are similar to DMFT
index
Caries Indices for Primary
Dentition
Def Index

Was Described by Gruebbel A.O in 1944.


 d=Decayed Teeth
 e= Extracted Teeth ( Due to Caries)
 f= Filled Teeth
Calculations of def Index

 For Primary teeth maximum def score for an


individual would be 20.
 Defs score for a child can be 88 to maximum.
 Calculations are same as that of DMFT.
For Mixed Dentition

 Caries indices for primary and permanent


teeth will be calculated separately.
 DMFT and deft are never added together.
 Index for permanent teeth is calculated first
,followed be deft index.
Plaque Index

 Proposed by Silness and Loe


 Assessment of thickness of plaque at
gingival area.
 Four gingival areas( distal, facial, mesial,
lingual) for each tooth or selected teeth.
The Plaque Index System
Scores
 0 Score
No plaque

 1 Score
A film of plaque adhering to the free gingival margin and adjacent area
of the tooth. The plaque may be seen in only after application of
disclosing solution or by using the probe on the tooth surface.

 2 Score
Moderate accumulation of soft deposits within the gingival pocket, or
the tooth and gingival margin which can be seen with the naked eye.

 3 Score
Abundance of soft matter within the gingival pocket and/or on the tooth
and gingival margin.
Procedure

 Tooth is dried and examined visually


 The explorer is passed across the tooth
surface near the entrance of gingival sulcus
 If no plaque adheres to the explorer it is given
score “0” and so on
Teeth to be examined
Calculation examples
The following example shows how to calculate the scores for the index.
Assuming a tooth with the following scores on the four surfaces

Surface Scores
Buccal 2
Lingual 1
Mesial 1
Distal 2

Plaque Index = (2+1+1+2) / 4 = 1.5, according to the plaque index


system this means the plaque index for the tooth is moderate
accumulation of soft deposit within the gingival pocket, or the tooth
and gingival margin which can be seen with the naked eye.
For instance, if you have the following indices for the teeth :

Tooth Index

Maxillary right first molar (16) 1.5

Maxillary right lateral incisor (12) 1.3

Mandibular left first molar (36) 1

Mandibular left lateral incisor (32) 1.6

Mandibular right first bicuspid (44) 1.3

Maxillary left first bicuspid (24) 1.2

 Then the index for the patient will be


 The index for patient = (1.5 + 1.3 +1.2 + 1 + 1.6 + 1.3) / 6 = 1.4
RATINGS

Excellent (0)
Good (0.1-0.9)
Fair (1.0-1.9)
Poor (2.0-3.0)
Thank You

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