Impact of the bitewing radiography exam inclusion on the prevalence of dental caries in 12-year-old students in the city of Franca, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction:The pattern of development of carious lesions has changed. The carious lesion has been progressive and reaches the dentin without showing alterations in the clinical aspects.Objectives:To determine the prevalence of caries in 12-year-old students in the city of Franca – São Paulo, Brazil, during the year of 2003, and to evaluate the additional value of bitewing radiograph to detect hidden carious lesions in permanent molar dentin.Materials and Methods:A probabilistic sample composed of two hundred and fifty six (256) students, from public and private schools, was submitted to a cross-sectional study through examination by a calibrated examiner, in order to detect the caries prevalence, using the methodology recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). For 66% of the sample, bitewing radiographs of the permanent molar region were obtained. The images were analyzed by a calibrated examiner, who established the presence of hidden caries in teeth with radiolucency in dentin, yet considered healthy in the epidemiological survey.Results:The prevalence of dental caries in epidemiological exam without (WHO) and with (WHO/R) the inclusion of hidden caries lesion was 54% and 64%, and the DMFT index was 1.73 and 1.92 respectively.Conclusion:Utilization of the method of bitewing radiographic diagnosis significantly increased (p<0.001) the prevalence of caries in the studied population.

The Additional Information of Bitewing Radiographs in the Detection of Established or Severe Dentinal Decay in 14-Year Olds: A Cross-Sectional Study in Low-Caries Population

“…Our finding of this high proportion of the clinically DMFS = 0 subjects with a yield from BW is also supported by that of Mestriner et al [5] and may indicate that in adolescents belonging to a low-caries prevalence population the absence of caries in a clinical examination may not be an adequate criterion when considering the need for obtaining the first pair of bitewing radiographs.…”

“…The present finding in which 53% of the sample subjects benefited from the radiographs is consistent with that of Lillehagen, who found that 48% of 9-year olds, likewise belonging to a low-caries prevalence population, benefited from BW screening [ 27 ]. Our finding of this high proportion of the clinically DMFS = 0 subjects with a yield from BW is also supported by that of Mestriner et al [ 5 ] and may indicate that in adolescents belonging to a low-caries prevalence population the absence of caries in a clinical examination may not be an adequate criterion when considering the need for obtaining the first pair of bitewing radiographs.…”

“…The lesion slowly progressing under the sound-looking enamel may not be perceptible to the clinical diagnostic techniques [ 3 – 5 ]. In low-caries prevalence populations the prevalence of these hidden caries lesions has increased, possibly as a result of the intensive use of fluoride [ 6 – 8 ].…”

Detection of Streptococcus mutans Genomic DNA in Human DNA Samples Extracted from Saliva and Blood

“…The microorganism may be present in caries free individuals, but their detectable levels are lower. Another possibility is that up to 10% of caries lesions may be missed by the use of the methodology recommended by the World Health Organization without complementation of radiographs [ 9 ].…”

Dental Caries in Children With Cleft Lip and Palate

“…3 However, no bias was introduced as the same methodology was applied to both cases and controls. The author of this study attempted to determine whether children with orofacial cleft malformations have an increased risk of caries compared to children without such malformations.…”