Dental caries and Cariostat test in preschool children

J Marmara Univ Dent Fac. 1997 Sep;2(4):616-20.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the caries status and susceptibility of children in preschool age. Sixty one children ages between 3 to 5 years (mean age 4.38 +/- 0.71) participated in this study. Caries status was assessed according to WHO criteria, and caries susceptibility by using the Cariostat test. The mean df-t was found to be 2.28 +/- 0.71 (df-s 6.26 +/- 11.92) and 31 children were caries-free. Cariostat scores were 1.75, 2.00, 2.16 in the 3, 4, and 5 year age groups respectively. There were no significant differences in caries status or Cariostat scores between boys and girls. The df-t for the 5 year age group was significantly higher than that for the 3 year age groups (p < 0.05). The test found 77% of the children to have a high caries risk (Cariostat score > 2.0).

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dental Caries / diagnosis
  • Dental Caries / epidemiology*
  • Dental Caries Activity Tests* / statistics & numerical data
  • Dental Caries Susceptibility
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Distribution
  • Turkey / epidemiology
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data