Assessment of caries on the first permanent molars in a group of seven- to thirteen-year-old schoolchildren: Comparison of DMF and ICDAS systems.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare ICDAS and DMFT/S in the evaluation of caries status of the first permanent molar in 200 children aged 7 to 13 years. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional design study. Participants were selected from two private schools in Lebanon. The examinations were performed by two trained and calibrated examiners using a dental mirror and a WHO probe. The number of decayed (D), missing (M) and filled (F) teeth was recorded in DMFT/S form, and the numbers related to D, M and F were then added to record the DMFT/S value (D1MFT/S, D2MFT/S and D3MFT/S). In the ICDAS, the assessment of caries associated with restorations and sealant was recorded. Student t tests/and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the continuous variables. Chi-square tests and Fisher exact tests were used to compare the categorical variables. RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 9.21 +/- 1.927 (7-13 years old). No significant difference was found between the mean time to score DMFT, DMFS and ICDAS indices (-p-value > 0.05). The prevalence of caries with D1MFS, D2MFS and D3MFS was 80.5%, 54% and 30.5%, respectively. However, the prevalence of caries with ICDAS II was 77.5%. CONCLUSION: The DMF index is an international user-friendly system that shows the carious history of teeth. However, the ICDAS assesses the different stages of caries and describes the restorative status of the tooth, promoting new preventive approaches and curative needs. More studies should be done to confirm these findings.