Insufficiency of Currently used Dental Indices in Epidemiology
Journal Title: Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research - Year 2014, Vol 4, Issue 10
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies oral diseases in two different ways: officially dental caries (K02) and gingivitis as well periodontal diseases (K.05) are diseases in the digestive system. In epidemiological surveys the so-called DMF-index values (D= decayed or M= missing or F= filled tooth/surface) are used in determining past and present caries experience and the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) of WHO is used for the region around the teeth. Prevalence may be defined as the proportion of a population that has a disease at a specific point in time. In epidemiology, a subject-specific approach is the only accepted practice which means that a patient has one or multiple diseases, the rest of the population being healthy. A certain “cut-off” value normally differentiates the healthy subjects from diseased ones. In oral epidemiology the index values are used to determine the “seriousness” of the oral diseases. Calibrated dentists/examiners may be educated in recording dental caries and attachment loss exactly at a high level of precision but unless these scientific recordings are “diagnoses”, the observations represent disease detections and assessments only without providing any prevalence or incidence values of oral diseases. The reason for that is hidden in the fact that the tools for oral health determinations are different from those for the diagnosis of oral diseases by WHO.
Authors and Affiliations
Markku Larmas, Kauko K Mäkinen
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP349185
- DOI 10.9734/BJMMR/2014/7139
- Views 59
- Downloads 0
Knowledge, Risk Perception, Protective Practices and Pattern of Accidental Exposures to Hazards of Healthcare Wastes among Workers in Primary Healthcare Centers in Sokoto, Nigeria
Introduction: Healthcare waste (HCW) includes all the waste generated within health-care facilities, research centers and laboratories related to medical procedures; it carries high risk for infection and injury than any...
Antibiotic Use, Cost, and Consumption in Tertiary Hospitals in Lebanon: A Comparative Study Before and After an Implementation of Antibiotic-Restriction Program (ARP)
Aims: To compare the antibiotic use, cost, and consumption before and after an implementation of an antibiotic-restriction program (ARP) in governmental hospitals setting in Lebanon. Study Design: A retrospective cohort...
Combined Spinal-epidural Anesthesia for Hip Fracture Surgery in Two Geriatric Patients with Low Ejection Fractions
Aims: To present the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia and postoperative analgesia in two geriatric patients, with low Ejection Fractions (EF) that underwent hip fracture surgery. Presentation of Case: Herein, 90 and 1...
Effect of Thermocycling on the Flexural Strength of Various PMMA Resins Reinforced with Different Fibres: An In vitro Study
Introduction: Fracture of an acrylic resin complete denture base after aging, poses problem for patients, dentists and dental laboratory technicians. This study was performed to determine the effect of thermocycling on t...
Rhinal Snuff: A Possible Gateway for Sinonasal Malignancy
Aim: To present a case report of malignancy of maxillary antrum invading the oral cavity associated with the habit of nasal snuff. Presentation of Case: We describe here a case of a 40-year-old man who developed malignan...