ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To assess the caries risk among 12-years old children using the Cariogram and to evaluate it by comparing with the actual change in DMFT and DMFS over a period of two year. METHODS: A two year prospective study was conducted among 12 years age group school going children in Davangere city. At the baseline relevant and required information regarding the oral hygiene, diet, fluoride usage were obtained using a specially prepared pro forma and the saliva samples were collected from study subjects and the required microbiological analysis was done, as per the instructions of Cariogram version 1997. Caries experience was assessed using DMFT and DMFS index. Re-examination was done after two years and caries increment was calculated. The data so obtained was fed into the Cariogram software based on which they were divided in five groups which were; 0-20% (high risk), 21-40%, 41-60%, 61-80% and 81-100% "Chance of avoiding caries". The caries risk profile generated by the software was compared with caries increment over two years and subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Eighty nine point twenty nine percent of the children in the very low risk group as predicted by Cariogram at baseline did not develop new caries lesions by the end of two years follow-up. Higher risk children at baseline developed higher number of new carious lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Cariogram can be a reliable tool in caries prediction. It can aid in identifying different risk groups in a community and developing preventive strategies for reducing caries risk in children.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the malocclusion status and treatment needs of adolescents with cleft lip and/or palate aged between 12 and 18 years, and to compare them with those of non-cleft subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Outpatient Department, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, KLE's Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum, India, during the period March to September 2004. The sample comprised 56 cleft lip and/or palate subjects aged between 12 and 18 years who were matched with 168 non-cleft subjects (controls) selected from the general population. The clinical examination was conducted using methods recommended by the World Health Organization oral health surveys. The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) was used to record the data. RESULTS: About 37.5% of cleft lip and/or palate subjects and 60.71% of controls scored a DAI ≤ 25 (no abnormality or minor malocclusion). About 51.78% of cleft lip and/or palate subjects and approximately one-third of controls (35.71%) scored a DAI of 26 to 30 (definite malocclusion). Subjects with cleft lip and/or palate disorder (8.92%) and controls (2.97%) scored a DAI of 31 to 35 (severe malocclusion, P = 0.06). Subjects with cleft lip and/or palate disorder (1.78%) and controls (< 1%) scored a DAI ≥ 36 (handicapping malocclusion). CONCLUSIONS: A majority of the cleft lip and/or palate subjects exhibited severe malocclusion, and treatment was highly desirable when compared to non-cleft subjects.
