Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of three kinds of caries activity tests for caries prediction. The caries activity tests used in this study were Cariostat (CariostatTM: Sankin), Resazurin Disk test (RD test®: Showa) and MSB broth (Mucount®: Showa). Caries activity tests and dental examinations at one year interval were performed on 71 patients ranging in the Hellman Dental Age II A to IV A as the first caries activity tests and continued for 5 to 9 years. The patients had all been seen for regular recall treatments at the Pediatric Dental Clinic of Nagasaki University School of Dentistry. The intervals of the recall visit of the patients were 3 to 6 months. All of the dental examinations, caries activity tests and recall treatments were performed by one of the authors. Results at one year intervals of the dental examination and caries activity tests were classified according to the dental age. The correlation between the scores on the caries activity tests and caries incidence 1 year after each of the caries activity tested periods were analyzed. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (p<0.05)were used to calculatet he correlationb etween the scores on the caries activityt estes and the following 3 items. These were the total number of the C0 (enamel white spot or incipient caries without enamel defect)increased for 1 year, the total number of the decayed teeth (d+D)except for C0 increased for one year, and Caries Severity Index (CSI) 1 year after each of the caries activity tested periods. According to the scores on the caries activity tests, the chi-square test for statistical significance (p<0.05) was attempted between the presence and absence of the C0, the presence and absence of the d+D for every 1 year interval, and between the CSI 1 year after each of the caries activity tested periods was over 8 and less than 8.
The following results were obtained.
1) For all of the caries activity tests, in comparing of the correlation between the caries activity score and the one-year total number of the C0, the one-year total number of the d+D and the CSI after one year from each of the caries activity tested periods, no significant correlation was obtained in Dental Age II A.
2) The Dental Ages that showed a significant correlation in the plural number items were the II C, IIIB and IIIC.
3) The caries activity test that showed the significant correlation in the highest number items was the Cariostat 48 hour scores.
4) The item that related to caries incidence and most often showed a significant correlation was the CSI and then the d+D.
These results suggested that the Cariostat 48 hours scores at the time of permanent tooth eruption may be useful for caries prediction.
