title: A longitudinal assessment of predictive value of a caries activity test in young children.
abstract: A longitudinal study was conducted in Okayama, Japan to investigate the predictive value of a caries activity test (Cariostat). The subjects were 100 children who participated in routine dental examinations at 18, 24 and 36 months. Results indicated caries prevalence of 9% at 18 months, 21 percent at 24 months and 70 percent at 36 months. Cariostat scores at each age were correlated with dmft at 36 months and with whether or not child was caries-free at 36 months. Cariostat scores at each age showed good validity (sensitivity + specificity) for whether or not child was caries-free at 36 months. These results indicated that caries activity test, Cariostat, was effective for predicting caries occurrence in young children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsubouchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimono
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Domoto
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003732:Dental Caries Activity Tests; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence