Measurement of dental caries experience--modification of the DMFT index

The DMFT index is one of the simplest and most commonly used indices in epidemiologic surveys of dental caries. It quantifies dental health status based on the number of carious, missing and filled teeth. The index, however, does not provide an accurate description of previous dental care. Nor does it provide information regarding the severity of the carious attack or the indicated treatment. Thus, a revision of the DMFT index was developed. This involved a division of the "D" component into four separate categories. With the addition of these categories, the index remains simple, and yet provides a description of one's previous dental experience. It further shows the extent of dental services needed by the population, which can be interpreted in terms of treatment hours and costs. This modified index has been successfully utilized in a dental epidemiologic survey of 1672 schoolchildren, 14-16 yr of age. It was apparent that the additional components provided significant data for treatment planning as well as dental health status.