Comparison between two visible biofilm indices in the primary dentition

The aim of this study was to compare two visible biofilm indices in the primary dentition. The sample consisted of 90 children of both sexes, aged up to 4 years old outpatients of the University Hospital of the Rio de Janeiro State University. A single examiner, aided by an assistant, performed the children's dental examination for biofilm assessment. A simplified visible biofilm index (BF1), which classifies biofilm as absent, thin or thick, in anterior and/or posterior teeth, and provides a score for the patient and not for each tooth, was compared to a conventional visible biofilm index, the visible plaque index, (BF2), which classifies biofilm as absent or present and provides scores for three surfaces of each tooth. A statistically significant association and a strong positive correlation between BF1 and BF2 was found (Kruskal-Wallis p < 0.001/rs = 0.81 p < 0.001). The time required to BF1 evaluation was approximately one third of the time required to BF2 evaluation (t test p < 0.001). These results suggest that the use of a simplified visible biofilm index is feasible in the primary dentition as it showed similar findings when compared to a conventional one, besides being more practical and quicker.