Oral hygiene as a risk indicator of enamel and dentin caries.
Dental researchers have postulated that the risk factors for enamel and dentin caries may not be the same. A review of the literature ascertained that data to support this theory are lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the risk indicators of enamel and dentin caries of the permanent dentition in a study group who had limited access to fluorides and made limited use of dental services.


METHODS
The study was conducted in Goa, India. Data came from a cross-sectional survey of 1189 seventh grade children, which consisted of a clinical dental examination and a self-administered questionnaire to their parents. The cavitated and non-cavitated criteria were used to score for caries, and the Silness-Loe index for plaque.


RESULTS
The mean age of the children was 12.2 years. The percentage of children caries free in the permanent dentition was 22.2%, the mean+/-s for dmfs, enamel and dentin lesions were 4.20+/-5.10, 2.59+/-2.89 and 1.61+/-3.30 respectively, and the mean plaque score was 1.00+/-0.48. Results of regression analyses showed that the risk indicators of prevalence and severity of caries differed depending on lesion type. The only variable that was consistently a risk indicator of presence and severity of both dentin and enamel caries was poor oral hygiene. Mother's highest level of education and presence of fluorosis were also risk indicators of enamel and dentin caries. The presence of decayed primary teeth was a risk indicator of enamel caries; and fluorosis severity, use of fluoride toothpaste at the time of the survey, and toothbrushing frequency were risk indicators of dentin caries. The observed caries-oral hygiene association seen is explored further.
Mascarenhas
A K
AK
Section of Health Services Research, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA. mascarenhas.1@osu.edu
D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology*; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005459:Fluorides