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  • Title: Dental indices and their impact on targeting of dental prevention, periodontal and filling therapy in young adults undergoing subsidised public dental care.
    Author: Helminen SK, Vehkalahti MM.
    Journal: Community Dent Health; 2003 Jun; 20(2):100-5. PubMed ID: 12828270.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To describe the dental health of young adults undergoing subsidised public dental care and evaluate the amount and targeting of actual dental prevention, filling and periodontal therapy, and the length of proposed check-up intervals in relation to dental health indices. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: Data on dental prevention, periodontal and filling therapy for the age groups 19- to 36-years in 1999 were analysed in relation to dental indices. SETTING: Public dental clinics of the Helsinki City Health Department. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 25,657 patients whose check-ups were conducted by 139 dentists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Length of proposed check-up intervals, actual number of visits, actual time used for repeated dental prevention, periodontal and filling therapy and their relation to caries and periodontal indices. RESULTS: The mean DMFT for all patients was 11.8 and DT 1.6; 6% had deep (> or = 4 mm) periodontal pockets and 70% had calculus with no pockets. Repeated dental prevention was not given to 77% of patients with calculus and DM > or = 3, but given to 19% of those with calculus and DT = 0. Dental indices reflected proposed individual check-up intervalsand repeated dental prevention actually given. The average length of proposed check-up intervals was 17.8 months. Of all fillings,13% were done for DT = 0 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists' dental prevention practices for young adults showed under use of preventive actions. The value of the DT and CPITN indices as a measure of treatment needs of caries and periodontal disease in young adults seemed to be minor.
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