title: Comparison between two visible biofilm indices in the primary dentition.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare two visible biofilm indices in the primary dentition. The sample consisted of 90 children of both sexes, aged up to 4 years old outpatients of the University Hospital of the Rio de Janeiro State University. A single examiner, aided by an assistant, performed the children's dental examination for biofilm assessment. A simplified visible biofilm index (BF1), which classifies biofilm as absent, thin or thick, in anterior and/or posterior teeth, and provides a score for the patient and not for each tooth, was compared to a conventional visible biofilm index, the visible plaque index, (BF2), which classifies biofilm as absent or present and provides scores for three surfaces of each tooth. A statistically significant association and a strong positive correlation between BF1 and BF2 was found (Kruskal-Wallis p < 0.001/rs = 0.81 p < 0.001). The time required to BF1 evaluation was approximately one third of the time required to BF2 evaluation (t test p < 0.001). These results suggest that the use of a simplified visible biofilm index is feasible in the primary dentition as it showed similar findings when compared to a conventional one, besides being more practical and quicker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, Rio de Janeiro State University, Brazil. paulapires@globo.com
authors.forename: Ana Paula Pires
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Vera Mendes
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Soviero
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous