Oral status indicators DMFT and FS-T: reflections on index selection

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Oral Health Assessment

Background:

• The DMFT index (decayed, missing, filled teeth) is a traditional measure for population oral status.
• Existing literature presents conflicting evidence regarding the utility of various oral health indices.
• Recognized limitations of the DMFT index have prompted the development of alternative measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the relationship between the DMFT index and the FS-T index (filled and sound teeth).
• To evaluate the consequences of index selection in population-based oral health analyses.
• To compare the suitability of DMFT and FS-T for describing oral status variations across different populations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the Trondelag-83 and -94 studies, follow-ups of the 1973 International Collaborative Study.
• Utilized sunflower scatter plots and regression analyses to visualize and quantify variations.
• Comparative assessment of DMFT and FS-T performance in populations with varying disease prevalence.

Main Results:

• The DMFT index demonstrated greater suitability for assessing variations in populations with low disease levels.
• The FS-T index proved more effective for describing variations in populations experiencing high disease prevalence.
• Both indices offer distinct insights into population oral health status.

Conclusions:

• Both DMFT and FS-T indices should ideally be reported when describing the oral status of a population.
• The selection of an index is primarily determined by the specific objectives of the research investigation.
• Theoretical preferences for one index over the other should consider its specific advantages in capturing population variation.