PUFA--an index of clinical consequences of untreated dental caries.
BACKGROUND
Dental caries is a global public health problem, especially in children. Most caries in developing countries remains untreated. Only limited data are available on the clinical consequences of untreated dental caries because there is no measure to quantify the prevalence and severity of oral conditions resulting from untreated dental caries.


OBJECTIVE
To present a new index to evaluate the prevalence and severity of oral conditions resulting from untreated dental caries. To validate the index within the Philippines National Oral Health Survey, 2006.


METHODS
The PUFA index records the presence of severely decayed teeth with visible pulpal involvement (P/p), ulceration caused by dislocated tooth fragments (U/u), fistula (F/f) and abscess (A/a).


RESULTS
Good kappa values show the reliability of the index. The prevalence of PUFA/pufa >0 was 85% and 56% for 6- and 12-year-olds, respectively. The mean number of teeth affected (PUFA/pufa) was 3.5 and 1.2 for 6- and 12-year-olds, respectively. In 6- and 12-year-olds, 40% and 41% of decayed teeth had progressed to odontogenic infections.


CONCLUSIONS
The PUFA index complements classical caries indices with relevant information for epidemiologists and health care planners.
Monse
B
B
Department of Education, Health and Nutrition Centre, City Division, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. bella.monse@gmail.com
Heinrich-Weltzien
R
R
Benzian
H
H
Holmgren
C
C
van Palenstein Helderman
W
W
D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003751:Dental Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology; D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000293:injuries; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology; D010508:Periodontal Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology; D010679:Philippines / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014059:Tongue / Q000293:injuries; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology