title: Assessing caries status according to the CAST instrument and WHO criterion in epidemiological studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) is a new epidemiological instrument for detection and treatment of dental caries. Worldwide, the WHO criterion constitutes the epidemiological tool most commonly used for caries detection. The objective of the present study is to determine the levels of similarity and difference between the CAST instrument and WHO criterion on the basis of caries prevalence, dmf/DMF counts, examination time and reporting of results.
  
  
  METHODS
  An epidemiological survey was carried out in Brazil among 6-11-year-old schoolchildren. Time of examinations was recorded. dmft, dmfs, DMFT and DMFS counts and dental caries prevalence were obtained according to the WHO criterion and the CAST instrument, as well the correlation coefficient between the two instruments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred nineteen children were examined. dmft and dmfs counts were 1.92 and 5.31 (CAST), 1.99 and 5.34 (WHO) with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.95 and 0.93, respectively. DMFT and DMFS counts were 0.20 and 0.33 (CAST), 0.19 and 0.30 (WHO), with r = 0.78 and r = 0.72, respectively. Kappa coefficient values for intra-examiner consistency were CAST = 0.91-0.92; WHO = 0.95-0.96 and those for inter-examiner consistency were CAST = 0.90-0.96; WHO = 0.94-1.00. Mean time spent on applying CAST and WHO were 66.3 and 64.7 sec, respectively p = 0.26. The prevalence of dental caries using CAST (codes 2, 5-8) and the WHO criterion for the primary dentition were 63.0% and 65.9%, respectively, and for the permanent dentition they were 12.7% and 12.8%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CAST instrument provided similar prevalence of dental caries values and dmf/DMF counts as the WHO criterion in this age group. Time spent on examining children was identical for both caries assessment methods. Presentation of results from use of the CAST instrument, in comparison to WHO criterion, allowed a more detailed reporting of stages of dental caries, which will be useful for oral health planners.
authors.forename: Ana Luiza
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF CEP 70710-90, Brazil. sorayaodt@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Soraya Coelho
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Ewald M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bronkhorst
authors.forename: Jo E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Frencken
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D003751:Dental Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000473:pathology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015588:Observer Variation; D010508:Periodontal Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants