Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlations between three kinds of caries activity tests scores and caries prevalence. The caries activity tests used in this study were Cariostat (CariostatTM: Sankin), Rezazurin Disc test (RD test®S: h owa) and MSB broth (Mucount®: Showa). Caries activity tests and dental examination at one year intervals were performed on 71 patients ranging from Hellman's Dental Age II A to WA at the first caries activity tests and continued for 5 to 9years. The patients had all been examined for regular recall treatment at the Pediatric Dental Clinic of Nagasaki University School of Dentistry. The intervals of the recall visit of the patients were 3 to 6months. 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 items of the caries prevalence using the total number of the decayed teeth (d+D-tooth) except for Co, the total number of the decayed or filled teeth(df+DF-tooth), the ratio of the decayed or filled teeth (df+DF-ratio), and Caries Severity Index (CSI) and caries activity tests were classified according to the Dental Age. The correlation between the items of the caries prevalence and the scores on the caries activity tests of each one-year interval were analyzed (p<0.05). The correlation between the items of the caries prevalence and the scores on the caries activity tests for all patients at all tested times and the times when they first reached at the Dental Age II A to IVA were also analyzed. (p<0.05).
The following results were obtained.
1) For three of the caries activity tests, in comparing of the correlations between the items of the caries prevalence and the scores on the caries activity tests, Cariostat 48 hours scores showed significant positive correlations in many Dental Ages. The frequencies of the significant positive correlation for the RD test scores and Mucount scores were low.
2) The Cariostat 48 hours scores showed significant positive correlations between the items of the caries prevalence and the scores on the caries activity test with high frequency in the Dental Age IIIB, IIIC and IVA.
3) The caries activity test scores were not always high under the condition of high caries incidence and the results of the caries activity tests did not always reflect the caries prevalence.
4) Under the condition of low caries occurrence controlled by regular recall treatment, Cariostat 48hours values could reflect the caries prevalence.
