are there any validated tools that can be used in preschoolers to assess the oral hygiene status? Most of the articles have just used the primary tooth surfaces in a modified version of the Greene and Vermillion OHI index. Are there any validations on this, and are there any new tools available?
I used the primary tooth surfaces for a visual exam. My parent/caregiver questionnaire was very basic as my purpose was to compare physical examination rates with dental examination rates, and to identify barriers to the dental exam.
you can use DDE index if you also want to evaluation defects for primary teeth.
We used the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (Greene JC, Vermillion JR. The Simplifi ed Oral Hygiene Index. J Am Dent Assoc. 1964;68(1):7-13.) and tried to validate the use of simple questions to determine the oral hygiene patterns (Cascaes et al. Validity of 5-year-old children’s oral hygiene pattern referred by mothers, Rev Saúde Pública 2011;45(4):668-75). Mothers responded about child’s oral hygiene, including daily
toothbrushing, toothbrushing before sleeping and the combination of the two
(oral hygiene), but Oral hygiene questions answered by mothers of five year-old
children are not an appropriate substitute for direct oral hygiene assessment
by the clinical examination of dental plaque.
okay. so falvio, whats your experience of the S-OHI in children? would you recommend using the both the calculus index and the debris index? some authors have used just the debris index since calculus in pediatric patients is a bit hard to find.
Why don't you use the DMFT index? its widely used for children and you can make international comparison with your results. Google WHO / BASCD, there is guidance on how to use the index.
I also wanted to add that Periodontal assessments are not usually conducted amongst pre-schoolers as Periodontal disease is not prevalent in that age group.
Good point there. But yes, debris may be presen on primary tooth surfaces and systematic reviews have shown a higher debris index associated with early childhood caries. Calculus however, i have my doubts about that.
If you want to then assess the plaque accumulation, then you can utilise a simple plaque index.
Hello; I am agree that the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHIs) is very used in many studies but don't forget that in very young children, it's some difficult to conduct this examination. Plaque is not always visible especially if the lighting is insufficient and if the children are not wise, thus it is always necessary to modulate the findings of this OHIs index with the results of the questionnaire on the oral hygiene and with the dmft index.
For School going Children DMFT index? its widely used to asses the oral health status and one can make international comparison with your results. Google WHO / BASCD, there is guidance on how to use the index
In relation to calculus, I share your opinion regarding its role in caries development. I think that in this age range in more importante to study the presence of plaque (biofilm) in the surface. Please check this interesting publication by the Dunedin group (Dental plaque and oral health during the first 32 years of life. Jonathan M. Broadbent, W. Murray Thomson, John V. Boyens and Richie Poulton. JADA 2011;142(4):415-426).
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