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Findings from a study in a defined urban population in South-western Nigeria using the PUFA index.

Year: 2014
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Dental caries is a preventable infectious disease which affects the dental hard tissues (enamel, dentine and cementum) as a result of bacterial action on sugar substrate over a period of time [1]. It is also described as a dynamic process of demineralization and re-mineralization resulting from microbial metabolism on the tooth surface which over time results in a net loss of mineral and subsequently but not always leading to cavitation [2,3]. It is one of the commonest oral childhood diseases. Regardless of the major improvements in the oral health of populations in several countries (including early diagnosis and treatment of dental caries), globally problems still exist, and more so in developing countries [4]. Research on caries in developed world is tailored towards early lesion detection, which is different from what obtains in the developing countries where although the documented prevalence of caries is low, the burden of non-treatment is high. Furthermore, in many developing countries, access to oral health care is limited and decayed teeth are often left untreated [5]. The burden of caries is particularly high among the disadvantaged and the poor in both developing and developed countries [6]. Over the years, disease burden has been measured using indices, (an index being a standard measure of a disease or condition). Caries burden has been measured using indices such as the Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth index (DMFT) which was developed by Klein and Palmer [7]. This index has been the most widely used index in measuring prevalence of dental caries for over 70 years. It is still the most popular caries index in existence; it however has a few limitations. The mean value of the index is skewed in populations with overall low caries prevalence but with a subpopulation with high individual scores. This subpopulation needs more attention when compared to the general population as they need highly specific intervention. For this subpopulation, the significant caries index [8] is used to determine the magnitude of the disease. It is calculated as the mean dmft of one third of the population with the highest dmft values. Although local and international studies on dental caries abound in the literature, as well as the known sequel of dental caries such as pain, missed school days, inability to eat and inability to sleep [9–11], studies quantifying the clinical consequences of untreated caries are few and have only recently been carried out using the ‘Pulp, Ulcer, Fistulae and Abscess’ (PUFA) index [12,13]. This PUFA index was developed in 2009 as a means of quantifying the clinical consequences of untreated caries [12]. This was the first index to address the issue and some validation studies have been conduced [11,13,14]. Before the PUFA index, quantifying the clinical consequences of untreated caries, the severity and complexity of the sequel of untreated caries in Nigeria were just sweeping statements [15]. A validation of this index in the Nigerian population will help put the picture of the burden of untreated caries in proper perspective, allowing for policy formulation for a more holistic management of caries and reaching the underserved communities. The PUFA index is recommended for use in conjunction with the DMFT index. This study therefore aims to determine caries prevalence using the DMFT index and ascertain the proportion of children experiencing various clinical consequences of untreated dental caries in a defined urban population in South-western Nigeria using the PUFA index.
Source: PubMed
Language: English
Field: Dentistry
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2412201351
FWCI:
Cites: 27
Cited by: 2
Related to: 10