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Comparison of two scoring methods for root surface caries in hamsters.
A R Firestone1, F F Feagin, C N Graves
1Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294, USA.
Journal of Dental Research
|January 1, 1988
Summary
This study compared two methods for scoring root surface caries in hamsters. Both methods showed fluoride effectively inhibited caries, with higher concentrations yielding better results.
Area of Science:
- Dental research
- Cariology
- Animal models in dental research
Background:
- Root surface caries is a significant oral health concern.
- Actinomyces viscosus is a key etiological agent in caries development.
- Fluoride is a well-established agent for caries prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of two distinct scoring methods for root surface caries.
- To evaluate the accuracy and sensitivity of the grid method versus the planimetric method.
- To assess the caries-inhibitory effects of varying fluoride concentrations in a hamster model.
Main Methods:
- Mandibles from hamsters infected with Actinomyces viscosus were used.
- Animals received varying concentrations of fluoride (0, 1, 10, 25 ppm) in drinking water.
- Root surface caries were scored using the grid method and the planimetric method.
Main Results:
- Both 10 and 25 ppm fluoride significantly inhibited root surface caries compared to 1 ppm and 0 ppm.
- A high correlation (0.92) was found between the two scoring methods.
- The ranking of caries scores between methods also showed high significance (0.88).
Conclusions:
- The planimetric method is as sensitive as the grid-scoring method for assessing root surface caries in hamsters.
- Fluoride demonstrates significant dose-dependent inhibition of root surface caries.
- Both evaluated methods are reliable for quantifying root caries in experimental settings.