title: [An index for untreated severe caries].
abstract: Hardly any data are available on the clinical consequences of untreated severe caries, because there is no method to quantify the prevalence of oral conditions resulting from untreated caries. In the Philippines, an index was developed which records for (the location of) each tooth whether caries has reached the dental pulp, whether ulceration is present in the surrounding soft tissues due to sharp edges of fragments of a tooth lost due to caries, or whether a fistula or abscess is present. By adding the index to the existing Decayed Missing Filled Tooth index, insight is provided on the extent and the consequences of untreated caries and research may be carried out on its possible impact on the general health and wellbeing of national populations.
authors.affiliation: Uit de vakgroep Internationale Mondgezondheid van het Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud in Nijmegen. w.vanpalenstein@dent.umcn.nl
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: van Palenstein Helderman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Monse
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: van Amerongen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003751:Dental Fistula / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000293:injuries; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D010508:Periodontal Abscess / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology