مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Approaches to the prevalance of dental caries and consept of cariogram

Abstract :

There are various kinds of index systems to identify the oral health of populations. For measuring and comparing the caries prevalence in populations the most commonly used index systems are DMFT and DMFS. Despite these systems advanced by WHO, the distinct variance of DMFT mean values doesn’t reflect the individuals with high caries prevalence in populations. To attack attention to the individuals with high caries prevalence a new index system Significant Caries Index is created. This index could also applied by unprofessional individuals in consideration of determining the oral health of communities. To determine the individuals who are predisposed to dental caries and to arrest this condition providing preventive and therapeutic service, and also to identify caries risk and the relationship between bacteria, diet and host response, cariogram has been developed. Cariogram is a computer programme which shows the caries risk of an individual according to the answers of some particular questions about the person’s oral health and life style. Because this programme is reflecting easily the various causes of dental caries, could be used for educational work up and also could be applied by a researcher who is not a medical personel. The aim of this review is to examine particularly the indexes used for measuring caries prevalence and cariogram.