title: Development of an auxiliary resource for diagnosis of dental caries in epidemiological surveys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early dental caries diagnosis within the changing global pattern of dental caries development requires the use of auxiliary resources and adjuncts to diagnosis. The aim of this study was to introduce an alternative resource for drying teeth to enable early diagnosis of dental caries in epidemiological surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  Polyurethane tips and three-in-one syringes were fitted to nebulizers and non-professional portable compressors for dental surface drying. The output air pressure of these sets was compared with the output pressure from the three-in-one syringe in a dental office.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the output pressure from the alternative resources was lower than the output pressure from the dental office equipment, the dental surfaces were dried satisfactorily, allowing the early diagnosis of the dental caries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When a dental setting is not available, these alternative resources for drying teeth can be used satisfactorily.
authors.affiliation: Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Castro Meneghim
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Mialhe
mesh_terms: D000399:Air Pressure; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D058868:Compressed Air; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003748:Dental Equipment; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003890:Desiccation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors