Caries experience scores revisited for caries risk assessment using cariogram model - A cross-sectional study

The widely accepted caries risk assessment tools such as the Cariogram model needs modifications in the scoring of different factors for reliable results.

The study was aimed to report the caries experience in 3-60 years of the Rajasthan population and to apply the newly derived average decayed exfoliated filled teeth/Decayed Missing Filled Teeth (deft/DMFT) scores in the Cariogram model to assess the caries risk.

The cross-sectional study was planned in the Department of Dentistry and a total of 500 participants were equally divided into five groups (3-6, 7-12, 13-30, 31-44, and 45-60 years) were included.

All participants were examined for caries detection using deft/DMFT, ICDAS, and CAST indices according to the predefined protocol. A single examiner evaluated the participants in a dental operatory and data was recorded.

One-Way ANOVA and Tukey's Post-Hoc tests were used to evaluate the significant difference between the groups of each caries index.

A statistically significant difference was observed between the mean deft/DMFT and CAST scores of 3-6, 7-12, and 13-30 age groups with the 45-60 years age group. Caries prevalence was highest (83%) in 31-44 and 45-60 year age groups and lowest (51%) in the 3-6 year age group.

Caries experience scores increase as the age increases and the highest scores were observed in 31-44 and 45-60 year age groups and the lowest were observed in the 3-6 year age group. The average ICDAS and CAST scores were higher when compared to the deft/DMFT index.