Icdas
Icdas
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to establish the correlation Results revealed that in the group of 3-year-old children, a
between an index for caries treatment needs and an index for significant correlation was observed in G1 (rho = -0.822);
caries lesions detection and evaluation. A cross-sectional G2 (rho = 0.330); G3 (rho = 0.509) and G4 (rho = 0.710)
study was performed on three samples of children aged 3 (n = between both indexes. For the group of 5-year-old children, a
302), 5 (n = 183), and 11-14 years old (n = 60), attending significant correlation was observed in G1 (rho = -0.821); G2
early childhood centers and schools in the cities of (rho = 0.260); G3 (rho = 0.344) and G4 (rho = 0.840). In the
Avellaneda, Rio Grande, and Buenos Aires. Dental caries group of children 11-14 years of age, a significant correlation
treatment needs were estimated on every child through the was observed in G1 (rho = -0.692); G3 (rho = 0.437) and G4
Caries Treatment Needs Index (CTNI) for programming (rho = 0.764). The indices analyzed in this study (CTNI and
resources allocation. Also, a diagnosis of dental caries was ICDAS II) show reasonable equivalence for use in clinical
made according to ICDAS II criteria. After the diagnostic and epidemiological studies based on the statistical analysis.
procedures, a dental care program was developed. The ICDAS Received: November 2021; Accepted: December 2021.
II variable was operationalized by grouping the codes into
four categories: G1: code 0; G2: code 1-2; G3: code 3; G4: Keywords: dental caries - epidemiology - Argentina - children
code 4-5-6. Measures of central tendency and dispersion were - validation study.
calculated for both variables, and the correlation was
calculated using the Spearman coefficient.
RESUMEN
El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer la correlación entre
ambas variables y la correlación se calculó mediante el
un índice de necesidad de tratamiento de caries y un índice
coefici- ente de Spearman. Los resultados revelaron que en el
para la detección y evaluación de lesiones de caries. Se
grupo de niños de 3 años se observó una correlación
realizó un estudio de corte transversal en tres muestras de
significativa en G1 (rho = -0,822); G2 (rho = 0,330); G3 (rho
niños de 3 años (n = 302), 5 años (n = 183) y 11-14 años (n =
= 0,509) y G4 (rho
60), que asistían a centros y escuelas de primera infancia en
= 0,710) entre ambos índices. Para el grupo de niños de 5
las ciudades de Avel- laneda, Rio Grande y Buenos Aires. Las
años se observó una correlación significativa en G1 (rho = -
necesidades de trata- miento de caries dentales se estimaron
0,821); G2 (rho = 0,260); G3 (rho = 0,344) y G4 (rho =
en cada niño a través del Índice de Necesidad de Tratamiento
0,840). En
de Caries (INTC) para la asignación de recursos de
el grupo de niños de 11 a 14 años se observó una correlación
programación. Además, se realizó un diagnóstico de caries
significativa en G1 (rho = -0,692); G3 (rho = 0,437) y G4
dental según los criterios de la ICDAS
(rho
II. Después de los procedimientos de diagnóstico, se
= 0,764). Los índices analizados en este estudio (INTC e IC-
desarrolló un programa de atención odontológica. La variable
DAS II) muestran una equivalencia razonable para su uso en
ICDAS II se operacionalizó agrupando los códigos en cuatro
estudios clínicos y epidemiológicos, basado en el análisis es-
categorías: G1: código 0; G2: código 1-2; G3: código 3; G4:
tadístico realizado.
código 4-5-6. Se calcularon medidas de tendencia central y
dispersión para
Palabras clave: caries dental - epidemiología - Argentina -
niños - estudio de validación.
INTRODUCTION
Health is interpreted as the outcome of factors been identified, the assessment can be established.
related to ways of life, lifestyles and quality of life, Pitts et al.12-14 and Ekstrand et al.15,16 developed
and recognizes the involvement of the following the International Caries Detection and Assessment
variables: (a) the oral and dental healthcare models System (ICDAS II) – a system for caries detection
in different countries as a result of the and assessment that integrates three dimensions
characteristics of their respective healthcare based on the lesion development process, which
systems and (b) the characteristics of knowledge synthesizes substantial evidence for making
management implemented at graduate and political, sanitary and clinical decisions.
postgraduate levels of healthcare studies1-3. In 1993, the Caries Treatment Needs Index (CTNI)
Dental caries is the outcome of complex interaction (Fig. 1) was designed and applied. The CTNI is
over time between acid-producing bacteria, based on the interaction of two axes: one based on
fermentable carbohydrates, and the host’s internal the lesion’s progression and the other based on the
and external factors. The risk of developing caries technological resources needed to control the risk
includes physical, biological, socio-environmental, of dental caries17-18. The progression axis identifies
and behavioral characteristics and factors related the magnitude of severity and extent. The
to living conditions and lifestyle. The micro- component referring to the magnitude of severity
circumstances for caries development include identifies the process of tissue compromise of the
different microorganisms, incompetent salivary dental caries lesion, going from a clinical
flow, insufficient exposure to fluoride, and threshold recognized as white spot19, which is
chemically propitious nutrition variables. The distinct from the white spot caused by
outcome of these processes causes a progressive hypomineralization to subsequent progression in
net loss of minerals in dental tissues, enabling cavitation, including dental tissues. The magnitude
caries lesions to develop4. The initial caries lesion of extent in the “mouth unit” is expressed by the
is intended to maintain or recover the health of the number of mouth quadrants with visible lesions.
affected tooth/teeth5. The technological axis includes the risk component
Available indicators for addressing dental caries and the available technological development
conceptually and operatively must conform to the component. The risk component results from
theoretical framework on which studies are based variables identified and often caused by the
and enable precise identification of the process of previous omission of appropriate actions for
clinical development of the disease from its early controlling the process. Technological development
stages to its complications. The available indicators is based on contextualized scientific evidence
may be simple or complex. The transfer of the and expressed as the proper strategies and their
results expressed by the different values must help application per mouth unit and teeth, according to
to systematize diagnosis and guide proactive, the magnitude recorded in dental quadrants.
efficacious, effective, and long-lasting interventions. Any index must be validated regarding the
The various indicators that have been developed reliability and validity of the construct, contents,
can be classified according to the different and criteria20. Rigorous application of indices by
variables that they address6: the past history of the examiner requires a calibration process
caries; the risk factors involved7; the stages in the including (a) theoretical knowledge of the indicator
development process of dental caries lesions8-9; and and cutoff points between its categories, (b)
the integration between the process of caries practical recognition in situations “on paper” and in
lesion development in terms of magnitude the clinic, and (c) calibration per se, establishing
(severity and extension) and the treatments inter-examiner differences between the “gold
recommended according to the approach for risk standard” or “reference examiner” and the new
control10-11. Also, it is necessary to clarify the examiner, and intra-examiner differences, i.e., the
differences between caries diagnosis and lesion variations recorded among observations made by
identification. Diagnosis involves the dental one professional.
professional’s interpretation regarding the sum of Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic
available data, while lesion identification involves diseases globally, affecting people throughout their
applying an objective method to determine whether lifetime21. Today, its distribution and severity vary
or not the lesion is present, and once it has among different regions, and its onset is strongly
Acta Odontol. Latinoam. ISSN 1852- Vol. 34 Nº 3 / 2021 / 289-
Diagnosis and treatment need indexes for 2
associated with environmental, sociocultural, respectively, using the Global Burden of Disease
economic, and behavioral factors22-24. The model24.
epidemiological profile of dental caries differs Different authors have compared dental caries
significantly between central and developing indices. Campus et al.25 compared ICDAS, CAST,
countries. However, variables that identify NYVAD, and DMF indices. They demonstrated
complex social issues such as poverty provide a that the most significant difference among methods
perspective from which to analyze heterogeneity was shown by the number of sound teeth (p <
within the homogeneity of countries. In Argentina, 0.01). In a cross-sectional study, Sarno et al.26
Piovano et al.22 studied the magnitude of dental demonstrated that the mean time taken to apply
caries, establishing the treatment needs in a sample the DMF was
of 2917 children, adolescents, and adults. 3.8 min; for ICDAS, it took 8.9 min, and for
Kassebaum et al.23conducted a worldwide CAST, 4.7 min. The mean numbers of decayed,
systematic review and meta-regression using missing, and filled teeth were 6.0 according to the
epidemiological data on untreated caries and DMF, 6.2 according to ICDAS, and 5.9 according
subsequent estimates of internally consistent to CAST. When the disease extension indicator
prevalence and incidence. Separate meta-regression was used, the following percentages of teeth were
was performed for untreated caries in primary affected by caries: DMF 22.12%, ICDAS 49.11%,
and permanent teeth, and CAST 33.2%. The DMF underestimated the
Vol. 34 Nº 3 / 2021 / 289- ISSN 1852- Acta Odontol. Latinoam.
2 Noemi E. Bordoni , et
occurrence of caries lesions in individuals but dental care program at local institutions.
was the fastest method to apply. ICDAS obtained
detailed information regarding lesion severity, but
it was a time-consuming method and challenging to
analyze. A systematic review based on specificity
and sensitivity studies of each system27 revealed
that sensitivity and specificity are greater with
ICDAS than with the dmft/DMFT index and
provide up to 43% more information in identifying
non-cavitated lesions. Still, it takes longer to
perform and involves more resources because it
uses light, compressed air, and prophylaxis before
the examination. Banava et al.28 revealed that the
ICDAS provides more accurate information than
DMF for the investigators and epidemiologists.
Similar findings were reported by Melgar et al.,
who informed that the DMFT index might
underestimate 60% of non-cavitated lesions in
children and 16.6% in adults29.
The objective of this study was to establish the
correlation between an index for caries treatment
needs and an index for caries lesions detection and
evaluation.
Statistical analysis
Frequencies, percentages, median, and quartiles
were calculated for the values recorded using
both diagnostic methods. The Jonckheere-
Terpstra ordered alternatives test for independent
samples was used to compare the distribution of
lesions ICDAS
Vol. 34 Nº 3 / 2021 / 289- ISSN 1852- Acta Odontol. Latinoam.
2 Noemi E. Bordoni , et
4 CTNI groups. For pairwise comparison, they lesions according to CTNI increases, there is an
were adjusted using Bonferroni’s correction. increase in the number of surfaces diagnosed with
Correlation between CTNI and ICDAS was ICDAS>0 and with ICDAS ≥ 3, and a decrease in
established by Spearman’s rho coefficient. For caries-free surfaces recorded with ICDAS II.
comparison between indices, the ROC curve was The correlation between CTNI scores and
used with Hanley and McNeil´s approximation distribution of surfaces for ICDAS>0, ICDAS=3-6,
method. Area under the curve was calculated with ICDAS=4-6, ICDAS=5-6, ICDAS=3-4, ICDAS=1-
95% confidence intervals; cutoff variable was 2 and for the
established as CTNI 00-02 / 03- 14 and CTNI 00- number of surfaces without lesions ICDAS=0 was
06 / 07-14; and variable dependent on the calculated for the age groups studied and for the
distribution of affected surfaces as ICDAS > 0, total sample (Table 2; Fig. 3). In all cases, the
ICDAS 3-6, ICDA 4-6, and ICDAS 5-6. results of Spearman’s correlation were statistically
significant, except for the group 11-14 years for
RESULTS distribution of lesions ICDAS=1-2. The correlation
Analysis of correlation of surfaces diagnosed between CTNI scores and the distribution of
according to ICDAS II and CTNI surfaces for ICDAS>0, ICDAS=3-6, ICDAS=4-6,
The distribution of lesions ICDAS = 0, ICDAS > ICDAS=5-6,
0 and ICDAS 3 or greater with CTNI grouped as: ICDAS=3-4 for each age group was very high. For
00-02, 03-06, 07-10 and 11-14 is shown in Fig. 2. distribution of lesions ICDAS=1-2, the correlation
Statistically significant differences are observed was low but statistically significant. The
upon comparing CTNI grouped in 4 categories to correlation between CTNI score and distribution of
the distribution of surfaces according to ICDAS=0, lesions ICDAS=0 (number of surfaces without
ICDAS>0, ICDAS 3 or greater (p<0.000). Pairwise lesions) was very high, and high and inverse
comparison of CTNI according to distribution of (negative) for each age group. Fig. 3 describes the
ICDAS lesions showed statistically significant correlation between CTNI and ICDAS>0.
difference except between categories 07-10 and 11-
14, with non-significant differences in the three Analysis of the results of the ROC curve for
comparisons performed. As the complexity of the distribution of lesions ICDAS for CTNI 00-02
record of lesions according to CTNI increases, vs. 03-14 and CTNI 00-06 vs. 07-14.
there is an increase in the number of surfaces For CTNI 00-02 / 03-14, area under the ROC curve
diagnosed with ICDAS>0 and with ICDAS ≥ 3, is very high for ICDAS>0 and ICDAS=3-6, and
and a decrease in caries-free surfaces recorded with high for ICDAS=4-6 and ICDAS=5-6 (Table 3;
ICDAS II., except between categories 07-10 and Fig. 4). For CTNI 00-06 / 07-14, area under the
11-14, with non-significant differences in the three ROC curve is very high for ICDAS>0, ICDAS=3-
comparisons performed. As the complexity of the 6, ICDAS=4-6 and ICDAS=5-6 (Table 4; Fig. 5).
record of
Table 2: Spearman’s correlation between CTNI and different groupings of ICDAS lesions for the 3
age groups and for the total
Up to 3
ICDAS>0 ICDAS=3-6 ICDAS=4-6 ICDAS=5-6 ICDAS=3-4 ICDAS=1-2 ICDAS=0
years
n=302
Spearman’s rho 0.822 0.804 0.710 0.653 0.605 0.319 -0.724
p value 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
5 years
ICDAS>0 ICDAS=3-6 ICDAS=4-6 ICDAS=5-6 ICDAS=3-4 ICDAS=1-2 ICDAS=0
n=183
Spearman’s rho 0.821 0.870 0.844 0.839 0.439 0.214 -0.791
p value 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.004 0.000
11-14 years
ICDAS>0 ICDAS=3-6 ICDAS=4-6 ICDAS=5-6 ICDAS=3-4 ICDAS=1-2 ICDAS=0
n=61
Spearman’s rho 0.656 0.784 0.660 0.615 0.582 -0.068 -0.619
p value 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.801 0.603 0.000
Total
n=546 ICDAS>0 ICDAS=3-6 ICDAS=4-6 ICDAS=5-6 ICDAS=3-4 ICDAS=1-2 ICDAS=0
Table 3: Area under the curve and CI95% for cutoff values CTNI: 00-02 vs. 03-14 for
distribution of surfaces ICDAS>0, ICDAS 3 or greater, ICDAS 4 or greater, ICDAS 5 or greater
Area under the curve for CTNI: 00-02 vs. 3-14
CI 95%
Variables of test
Variables of test
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