Diagnosing non-cavitated lesions in epidemiological studies: practical and scientific considerations.

Over the last decade, there has been growing interest in diagnosing non-cavitated lesions in epidemiological studies involving large numbers of preschool children, schoolchildren and young adults. In this context, assessment of lesions characteristics indicating whether or not there is ongoing mineral loss is also considered relevant. The reasoning sustained by these studies is that diagnosis of the caries process limited to the cavitated level is no longer in accordance with current state-of-the-art knowledge in cariology. This paper highlights one topic of the lecture entitled "Caries Process: Evolving Evidence and Understanding," presented at the 18th Congress of the Brazilian Association for Oral Health Promotion (Associação Brasileira de Odontologia de Promoção de Saúde - ABOPREV) in April 2013. In the framework of epidemiological studies, the interest in diagnosing active and inactive non-cavitated lesions was elucidated. However, relevant questions associated with the diagnosis of non-cavitated lesions that might raise concerns among researchers and health administrators were not addressed. The present paper aims to bring these questions into discussion. The contribution of this discussion in terms of developing the understanding of caries decline is analyzed by using data from a caries trends study of Brazilian preschool children residing in the Federal District of Brazil as an example. The inclusion of active and inactive non-cavitated lesions in the diagnosis of the caries process allowed us to demonstrate that, in Brazilian 1- to 5-year-old children, caries prevalence decreased significantly from 1996 to 2006, simultaneously with a reduction in the rate of caries progression

Traumatic dental injuries in Brazilian pre-school children

The purpose of this investigation was to estimate the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in a sample of Brazilian pre-school children with limited access to dental care. The sample included 1,853 one-to-five-year-old children attending public nursery schools in the Federal District of Brazil. Dental injuries were clinically assessed as follows: 1) uncomplicated crown fracture, 2) complicated fracture, 3) crown discoloration, 4) intrusive luxation, 5) extrusive luxation, 6) exarticulation or extraction after trauma and 7) subluxation. The results showed that 10% (< 2 years), 12% (3-4 years) and 20% (5 years) of the children had suffered at least one type of injury clinically identified at the time of the examination. Boys and girls were similarly affected. Dental injuries were almost entirely restricted to the maxillary central incisors (88%). Single tooth injury was predominant in all age groups. In the youngest group the most common types of injuries were crown fracture (69%) and crown discoloration (18%). However, from the age of three, crown discoloration showed percentages ranging from 41% to 47%. Prematurely lost tooth accounted for 11% of the injuries in 5-year-old children. The observed increase of dental injuries with age indicates accumulated treatment needs due to the children's limited access to dental care

Clinical report on plaque formation, distribution and maturation within the primary, mixed and permanent dentitions.

AIM: The report described the formation distribution and maturation of dental plaque within the primary, mixed and permanent dentitions. DESIGN: Eight caries-free volunteers who were 4-6 years of age participated in the study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The children received prophylaxis and refrained from toothbrushing for 48 hours. The occurrence and distribution of plaque in the primary dentition were assessed. One child continued the experiment from the age of 6 to 15. RESULTS: The recording of plaque was made and pictures were taken. In the primary dentition, 704 surfaces were assessed. Significant difference between plaque on buccal and other surfaces was recorded (p< 0.001). In the mixed and permanent dentition plaque scores of 128 surfaces were recorded. Plaque scores of partially erupted posterior teeth and posterior teeth in full occlusion differed significantly with limited accumulation of occlusal plaque in the latter. CONCLUSION: The report highlights that the most critical period for plaque accumulation is the time from tooth emergence to full occlusion, when the tooth has a reduced participation in the mechanical oral function. As caries is a plaque induced disease, the potential to caries development in children during tooth eruption is consequently high

Radiographic Yield for Clinical Caries Diagnosis in Young Adults: Indicators for Radiographic Examination.

This prospective cohort study investigated the distribution pattern of carious lesions diagnosed by visual tactile and radiographic examinations, assessed the radiographic yield for clinical caries diagnosis, and estimated how accurately commonly used indicators for caries identified young adults who would benefit from radiographs at different thresholds. Overall, 576 patients aged 16-32 years seeking a first consultation were included. Patients were examined for caries and answered a validated questionnaire on sociodemographics and oral health behavior. Almost 10% of clinically sound approximal surfaces presented radiolucency in enamel/dentine. Of the clinically diagnosed noncavitated approximal and occlusal lesions, 22.5 and 17.7%, respectively, presented radiolucency reaching dentine at the radiographic examination. Noncavitated/enamel lesions detected radiographically were mainly at approximal surfaces (73.2%), while at occlusal surfaces these were negligible (0.7%). More than half of approximal dentine lesions were only detected radiographically (61.3%), while more than half of occlusal dentine lesions were only clinically diagnosed (57.1%). The hierarchical logistic regression analysis showed that patient's caries activity, D1MFS scores ≥17, and frequent consumption of soft drinks were significantly associated with detection of approximal enamel/dentine lesions. Also, patient's caries activity and frequent consumption of soft drinks were significantly associated with occlusal dentine caries (p ≤ 0.05). The indicator power of grouping these indicators as a predictor for the presence of radiographically detected lesions showed high sensitivity (0.84-0.91) and moderate specificity (0.64-0.73) for all surfaces and thresholds tested. In conclusion, radiographs increased significantly the number of approximal enamel/dentine and occlusal dentine lesions diagnosed. The ability to identify young adults with approximal lesions from the predictor was satisfactory. Bearing in mind that an essential contribution of bitewing radiographs to clinical examination is the detection of approximal noncavitated/enamel lesions that can be inactivated by nonoperative interventions, our results support the prescription of radiographs in young adults seeking a first consultation. Updating of current guidelines' recommendation of radiographs is warranted

Onset, development and arrest of dental caries in Brazilian pre-school children

The aim of this study was to describe the onset, development and arrest of dental caries in Brazilian 1- to 5-year-old children with limited access to dental care. The sample represented 40% of all children in these age groups attending public nursery school in the Federal District of Brazil. A total of 1465 children who benefited from fluoridated water soon after birth were examined for caries. For all teeth and tooth surfaces, the examination recorded whether they were sound, showing active or arrested lesions (non-cavitated or cavitated), filled or indicated for extraction. The onset of dental caries was identified at an early age; 89% of children were free of caries at the age of 1 year, decreasing to 28% at the age of 5 years. Non-cavitated lesions (active and arrested) accounted for 71% (<2 years), 58% (3 years), 47% (4 years) and 40% (5 years) of the total number of surfaces showing caries experience. The corresponding values for cavities were 28%, 38%, 47% and 47%, respectively. Maxillary incisors and molars disclosed the highest caries experience in all ages. For children older than 1 year, both mean deft and defs scores not including non-cavitated lesions were significantly different from those for which non-cavitated lesions were taken into account (t-test, P < 0.0001). At the age of 5 years, defs scores were 5.5 and 8.8, respectively. This study documented that the onset and development of dental disease started at an early age in the population studied, leading to a considerable need for dental care

Odontologia nos centros de saúde do Distrito Federal.

[Dentistry in Federal District health centers]

Early Childhood Caries in Brazilian Non-privileged Preschool Children

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is considered a problem of public health for certain groups of children, including non-privileged ones. ECC describes the presence of one or more decayed (non-cavitated or cavitated lesion), missing (due to caries), or filled tooth surfaces, i.e. d 1 efs scores, on any primary tooth in children up to 71 months of age. […

Caries Incidence and Progression in Young Adults: Baseline Clinical Data

This is a prospective cohort study on oral health of young adults aged 18–30 years. The aims were: (1) to analyze caries incidence and progression at clinical as well as radiographic levels; (2) to identify predictors for caries incidence and progression in early adulthood. The subjects were 612 new patients seeking treatment at the University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium in 2010–2011. [...