Index of Caries Experience - A Composite System for Recording Dental Caries.

INTRODUCTION: Measurement of dental caries is imperative for its prevention and control. The present study was conducted with the aim of developing a dental caries index that is reliable, reversible, and valid. A cross-sectional study was designed and conducted at the outreach dental clinics of a dental school in India. METHODS AND MATERIAL: A total of 219 patients visiting outreach centres participated in the study. Patients attending outreach dental clinics aged 15 years and above, who were dentate and affected by dental caries, were included. Clinical examination was done under clinical conditions with dental chair lighting. Decayed Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Index of Caries Experience (ICE) were recorded using the visuo-tactile method according to the index criteria. RESULTS: The relationship between the DMFT and ICE was determined. Results showed that the DMFT from ICE had good correlation. The decayed teeth index (DTI) score varied from decayed teeth (DT) according to age and sex. DTI was significantly higher for females than for males and higher among younger age groups than older ones, but DT did not exhibit the differences. CONCLUSIONS: ICE is a new system in which the proviso is to measure the non-cavitated lesions and health of permanent dentition. DMFT and ICE have good correlation. DTI is more sensitive than the DT score.

Self-Rated Oral Health and Associated Factors among an Adult Population in Rural India-An Epidemiological Study.

BACKGROUND: To determine the perception of oral health status and its associated factors among adults living in rural areas in Karnataka state, India. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults in the age group of 35-54 years old residing in villages in a southern state in India. The main outcome measure was poor self-rated oral health (SROH) among adults in rural India. RESULTS: About 873 adults participated in the study. The prevalence of poor SROH was 15.2%. Adults of age 40-44 years, females, those in lower socioeconomic conditions, and those with high caries experience (DMFT ≥ 4) and periodontal disease were associated with poor SROH. Those who had visited a dentist in the previous one year were 1.9 times more likely to report poor oral health. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 15% of rural people reported poor oral health. Socioeconomic conditions, sex, age, smoking, and dental visiting were associated with poor SROH. People's perception of poor oral health was associated with severe periodontitis and DMFT ≥ 4. A dose-response relationship was observed between experience with dental caries and poor SROH.

Is Periodontitis Independently Associated with Potentially Malignant Disorders of the Oral Cavity?

Objective: To examine if periodontitis is independently associated with oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) in a rural Indian adult population aged 35-54 years. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in rural India from 2011 to 2012. Multistage stratified cluster random sampling was followed to recruit 1401 participants aged 35-54 years. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data on sociodemographic factors, tobacco and alcohol use. Oral examinations were done to record OPMD, periodontal findings and missing teeth. Univariate, bivariate and multivariable analyses were achieved using SPSS version 16 Chicago, SPSS Inc. OPMDs (leukoplakia, erythroplakia, oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and suspicious malignant lesion) whether present or absent were selected as outcome variables; age, sex, socioeconomic factors, smoking, tobacco-chewing status, alcohol use, and periodontitis were considered as the predictor variables. Results: Among 873 participants, 44 demonstrated 47 lesions. Leukoplakia (n=21), erythroplakia (n=3), OSF (n=21), and suspicious malignant lesions (n=2) were present, strongly associated with past tobacco-chewing status [OR=9.22 (2.57-33.15)], current tobacco-chewing status [OR=15.49 (6.20-38.74)] and moderate/severe periodontitis [OR=3.19 (1.11-9.12)]. Conclusion: Periodontitis is a risk indicator for OPMD, independent of socioeconomic factors and tobacco-chewing. Tobacco-chewing status, both past and current, was strongly associated with OPMD in our rural Indian population.