Caries Detection with ICDAS and the WHO Criteria: A Comparitive Study

Abstract

Introduction: Dental caries is the most prevalent chronic disease affecting mankind and is the primary reason for tooth pain and edentulism. The presence or absence of caries depends on the diagnostic cut-off points selected. Aim: This study evaluated the comparability of two systems i.e., the International Caries Detection and Assessment system (ICDAS II) and the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for detection of carious lesions among a set of outpatient subjects and was assessed for a equivalency point between the systems. Materials and Methods: A total of 242 subjects were independently inspected by two examiners who were trained and calibrated accordingly for detecting a carious lesion using the WHO and the ICDAS II criteria. Caries prevalence and the mean decayed teeth were calculated using both the systems. Wilcoxon test was employed to compare the mean caries score obtained with the WHO criteria and the ICDAS. Caries prevalence, according to the WHO criteria and ICDAS II criteria was compared using McNemar's test. Results: The equivalency point between these two systems was at score four of the ICDAS II in this particular study. Conclusion: In addition to unearthing a significant number of non-cavitated carious lesions, the ICDAS II can be equated to the WHO criteria at score four of the ICDAS II.

Keywords

• dental caries
• dental public health
• diagnosis
• epidemiology
• visual inspection