title: Influence of diagnostic adjuncts to the measurement of caries prevalence at different caries thresholds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of diagnostic adjuncts (dental brushing and drying) in dental caries diagnosis. To analyse the underestimation levels in epidemiological examinations when compared to traditional dental setting examinations. To evaluate the influence of including noncavitated (NC) carious lesions in the estimation of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  51, 12-year-old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four epidemiological exams performed in an outdoor setting and one performed in a traditional dental setting (visual-tactile method associated or not with diagnostic adjuncts).
  
  
  METHODS
  DMFS (Decayed, Missing and Filled Surfaces) index, according to the WHO criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared to exams carried out in a traditional dental setting, the epidemiological examinations showed no significant statistical differences for the DMFS score (p>0.05), presenting underestimation levels lower than 10% (except for the low prevalence caries group in the WHO exam). For the DMFS, previous dental brushing was more relevant than previous dental drying, although drying was the most important resource for NC diagnosis (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The visual/tactile method, with or without diagnostic adjuncts, can diagnose cavitated lesions efficiently, but not NC lesions. However, for the low caries prevalence group, the implementation of dental brushing prior to an exam could be suggested.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Odontologia Social, Avenida Limeira 901, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andréa Videira
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Assaf
authors.forename: Marcelo de Castro
authors.initials: Mde C
authors.lastname: Meneghim
authors.forename: Luciane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanin
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pardi
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Gláucia Maria Bovi
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ambrosano
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003732:Dental Caries Activity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence