[Occlusal caries - early detection in school-based dental screenings].
Concomitant to the general caries decline in children and adolescents, caries is mainly concentrated on occlusal surfaces of permanent molars. While occlusal cavities have been shifted to non-cavitated lesions, school-based visual tactile screenings on a cavity level based on the WHO standard (1997) are of limited value as evidence. To avoid cavities or extended restorations current dentistry targets at early prevention or minimal intervention. School-based visual screenings of non-cavitated lesions may support the preventive care strategies of dental practioners. A comparative diagnostic study in 8- to 12-year-olds in the Westfalian Ennepe-Ruhr district showed that occlusal surfaces scored as primarily sound under the WHO standard in fact revealed a high need for preventive (43%) and operative (30%) treatment after using additional visual and laser optical diagnostic measurements. Because of the limited information of the laser optical findings, laser fluorescence diagnostics should not be included in school-based dental screenings. Compromises are needed to introduce visual diagnostic examinations in school-based dental screenings.
Goddon
I
I
Fachbereich Soziales & Gesundheitdes Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreises, Schwanenmarkt 5-7, 58452 Witten. I.Goddon@en-kreis.de
Berger
S
S
Senkel
H
H
Kühnisch
J
J
Heinrich-Weltzien
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*