Diagnosis of dental caries: comparing results of three epidemiological surveys from the same population

Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia

Pontes, Elenir Rose Cury Jardim¹  Junqueira, Simone Rennó¹  Narvai, Paulo Capel²  Biazevic, Maria Gabriela Haye¹ 

[1]Universidade de São Paulo

[2]Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo

关键词: DMF index;    Dental caries/diagnosis;    Epidemiology;    Calibration;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1415-790X2001000200002

学科分类：过敏症与临床免疫学

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

INTRODUCTION:The DMF-T index is the most widely used instrument to estimate prevalence ofdental caries on permanent teeth in epidemiological surveys. Since the 60's,the World Health Organization has been recommending standards for oral healthsurveys to improve validity and reliability of epidemiological data. Duringthis period, different criteria for diagnosis and coding the observations havebeen used.
OBJECTIVE: To compare data from the same population using different standardizationsfor DMF-T and dmf-t indexes in order to verify if changing dental caries criteriaredounds to different population estimates.
MATERIAL AND METHOD: Data from three epidemiological surveys carriedout in the City of São Paulo in 1996 and 1998 were analyzed. These surveyshad different methodological aspects as sample design and calibration of examiners.DMF-T averages and value distribution related to schoolchildren from 6 to 12years of age were analyzed comparing averages and proportions.
RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between averages. Therewere no significant differences in percentages of caries- free individuals inrelation to deciduous dentition, unlike permanent teeth.
CONCLUSION: Different criteria used to define dental caries did not leadto different averages and percentages in these three surveys.

【 授权许可】

CC BY