Validation of the Visible Occlusal Plaque Index (VOPI) in estimating caries lesion activity

Carvalho, Joana Christina; Mestrinho, Heliana Dantas; Oliveira, L. S.A.F.; Varjão, Magmara M.; Aimée, Nicole R.; Qvist, Vibeke

doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2017.06.003

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…On smooth surface, the percentage of visible plaque was calculated by dividing the number of surfaces with visible plaque by the total number of surfaces in the dentition [O' Leary et al, 1972]. On occlusal surfaces, plaque was recorded according to the visible occlusal plaque as no, thin, and thick/heavy plaque [Carvalho et al, 2016[Carvalho et al, , 2017.…”

Section: Clinical Cases and Precoded Questionnairementioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, and Treatment Decisions for Occlusal Caries: A Survey from the Danish Public Dental Health Service

Carvalho¹,

Qvist²,

Aimée³

et al. 2017

Caries Res

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This study validates a case-based survey method and analyzes the extent to which Danish dental professionals apply current concepts and strategies for occlusal caries management in children, adolescents, and young adults. A case-based, precoded questionnaire consisting of 10 clinical cases/patients with 26 teeth/occlusal surfaces was developed. The cases were set up in a PowerPoint presentation and color printed as a booklet illustrating patients with different patterns of caries activity, severity, and risk. A total of 69 dental professionals participated. Content and face validity of the survey method was established using a panel of experts. The panel also assessed the reliability of the method using a test-retest procedure (κ ≥ 0.80) and acting as benchmark. Measurements of agreement between dental professional and benchmark assessments showed substantial agreement for overall caries activity and risk assessment of patients and for clinical and radiographic severity of occlusal lesions (κ = 0.61-0.67). For assessment of caries lesion activity on occlusal surfaces, the agreement was moderate (κ = 0.50). Regarding treatment decisions, dental professionals showed substantial agreement when indicating restorative treatments (κ = 0.68). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant influence of various patient-, lesion-, and participant-related variables in the assessment of caries risk, caries activity and severity, and treatment decision. In conclusion, Danish dental professionals participating in the study apply reasonably well current concepts on overall caries activity and risk assessment, clinical and radiographic severity of occlusal lesions, and, to a certain extent, assessment of caries lesion activity on occlusal surfaces. Nonoperative treatment decisions had a high priority among Danish professionals.

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Section: Clinical Cases and Precoded Questionnairementioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, and Treatment Decisions for Occlusal Caries: A Survey from the Danish Public Dental Health Service

Carvalho¹,

Qvist²,

Aimée³

et al. 2017

Caries Res

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“…Presence of the undisturbed dental biofilm on a dental surface is known to be a major contributing factor to the development of dental caries.Thus, the prevalence of active caries lesions in the first permanent molars detected in the present study population correlated significantly with the recorded dental plaque levels; there was up to nine times higher a chance to detect active caries lesions in those children who had an abundant plaque present on the dental surfaces (the plaque scores 2 and 3). This is not a new issue; it has been shown in a number of earlier studies that caries lesion activity is related to the plaque scores on the dental surfaces [22][23][24][25]. Moreover, a significant correlation of the caries experienced in the newly erupted permanent teeth with the caries experienced in the primary dentition, as well as with the reported toothbrushing frequency of the participating children, was observed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Estimation of Caries Treatment Needs in First Permanent Molars of Lithuanian 5–6-Year-Old Children, Based on Caries Lesion Activity Assessment

et al. 2020

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Background and Objectives: Early detection of dental caries lesions at active stages of development can facilitate their monitoring and reduce needs for restorative dental care. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and caries treatment needs in first permanent molars of pre-school children, based on a caries lesion activity assessment, and in relation to participants’ ages, dental plaque levels and toothbrushing habits. Materials and Methods: Large cross-sectional dental caries survey using multistage cluster sampling was conducted among Lithuanian 4–6-year-old children attending kindergartens. For the present study purpose, all individuals presenting erupted permanent molars were selected. Thus, only 5–6-year-olds (n = 453) took part in this study. They were examined for caries by one calibrated examiner using Nyvad clinical diagnostic criteria that differentiate between active and inactive caries lesions. Dental plaque was assessed by the Silness-Löe index, and parents’ reports about toothbrushing frequency were collected. Results: Overall, 41% of permanent molars were affected by caries; 6-year-olds had more caries lesions than 5-year-olds (p < 0.05). Mean number of decayed and filled surfaces (DF-S) of all participants was 1.79 (SD 2.93), half of lesions were noncavitated, more than one-third were cavitated and fillings comprised less than one surface per child. Majority of lesions were active; prevalence of inactive lesions (all noncavitated) was 1% and 6% in 5- and 6-year-olds, respectively. Prevalence of active lesions increased with age; it correlated with plaque levels and with toothbrushing frequency (<0.001). Likelihood to detect active lesions was up to nine times higher in teeth with abundant plaque (odds ratio (OR) 8.73; confidence interval (CI) 5.35–14.25), and up to seven times higher in individuals brushing teeth irregularly (OR 6.88; CI 2.21–21.41). Conclusions: The obtained data indicate high treatment needs in the erupted permanent molars of the Lithuanian pre-school population and imply that caries management should primarily focus on improved biofilm removal, accompanied with regular use of fluoridated toothpaste.

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“…This study is part of a 3-y clinical trial on caries incidence and progression in adolescents with erupting and fully erupted molars (baseline, n = 618; 2-y follow-up, n = 511). At baseline, adolescents were 10 to 15 y old and residents in the Region of Itapoã (0.8 ppm F; CAESB 2021), Federal District of Brazil (Carvalho et al 2017). In this study, sample size and selection were a given; only sensitivity analysis could be performed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a previous study, we showed that the Visible Occlusal Plaque Index (VOPI) had content and construct validity in assessing occlusal lesion activity (Carvalho et al 2017). Criterion validity, another required component of the validation process, is the extent to which the measurement correlates with an external criterion, a measure, or an outcome of the phenomenon under study, ideally a "gold standard" or reference standard.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visible Occlusal Plaque Index Predicting Caries Lesion Activity

Carvalho¹,

Mestrinho

Aimée

et al. 2022

J Dent Res

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This study was undertaken to appraise the predictive validity of the Visible Occlusal Plaque Index (VOPI) in assessing occlusal caries lesion activity in adolescents. A total of 618 adolescents aged 10 to 15 y were examined at the beginning of the trial and 511 (82.7%) at the 2-y follow-up. Adolescents and parents answered questionnaires about demographics, oral health behavior, and family sociodemographic variables. The VOPI has a 4-point ordinal scale ranging from no plaque to heavy plaque. Molar teeth were assigned to group VOPI 0–1 (no/thin plaque; n = 2,539) and group VOPI 2–3 (thick/heavy plaque; n = 843). At baseline examination, occlusal surfaces at risk of transition ( n = 3,382) were either sound (55%), inactive noncavitated lesions (21%), inactive cavitated lesions (1%), active noncavitated lesions (15%), or active cavitated lesions (7%). The relative risk (RR) for caries lesion transition was estimated. Sound occlusal surfaces with no or thin plaque were significantly more likely to remain sound (RR = 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–1.4) than those harboring thick or heavy plaque. Inactive noncavitated occlusal lesions presenting no or thin plaque were significantly less likely to progress to active noncavitated lesions (RR = 0.1; CI: 0.0–0.8) than their counterparts with thick or heavy plaque. Active noncavitated lesions harboring thick and heavy plaque had a significantly lowest chance of becoming sound (RR = 0.7; CI: 0.5–0.9) and a highest risk of remaining active (RR = 1.5; CI: 1.1–1.9). Stepwise logistic regression analyses were run according to surface status at baseline and showed that none of the nonclinical predictors were significant for the outcome. The presence of thick and heavy plaque on occlusal surfaces was a predictor for caries lesion development, progression and activity ( P < 0.0001). In conclusion, besides being an additional clinical tool for oral hygiene assessment, the VOPI is a predictor for development, progression, and activity of occlusal caries lesion. This is of particular interest for assessment of occlusal lesions undergoing health-promoting transitions.

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Validation of the Visible Occlusal Plaque Index (VOPI) in estimating caries lesion activity

Cited by 13 publications

References 20 publications

Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, and Treatment Decisions for Occlusal Caries: A Survey from the Danish Public Dental Health Service

Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, and Treatment Decisions for Occlusal Caries: A Survey from the Danish Public Dental Health Service

Estimation of Caries Treatment Needs in First Permanent Molars of Lithuanian 5–6-Year-Old Children, Based on Caries Lesion Activity Assessment

Visible Occlusal Plaque Index Predicting Caries Lesion Activity

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