Dr Mona Mustafa

BDS - MD
 Dental indices are used for measuring, scoring
and analyzing dental conditions in individuals
and groups.
 Oral health surveys depend on dental indices
to:
 1/ show the prevalence and incidence of
adisease
 2/ to assess the needs of apopulation
 3/ to evaluate the effect and results of
acommunity program.
Definition:
An index is anumerical value describing the
relative status of apopulation on agraduated
scale with definite upper and lower limits
which is designed to permit comparison with
other population classified by the same criteria
and method .
1/ Reliability:
It should be able to measure consistantly at
different times and under variety of conditions
2/ Validity:
It should measure what is intended to measure (
reflect the degree to which the condition is
present )
3/ Clarity, Simplisty and objectivity:
It should be easy to apply and the criteria
should be clear and simple
4/ Quantifiability:
Index should be amenable to statistical analysis
so that status of group can be measured e.g
mean, median .
5/ Acceptability:
Not painful
6/ Sensitivity:
Able to detect small shifits in either direction
in the condition
1/ Simple Index:
The one which measure the presence or absence
of acondition e.g presence of plaque without
evaluating its’ effect on the gingiva
2/ Cumulative Index :
The one which measure all the evidence of
acondition ( past & present) e.g DMFT for
dental caries
 3/ Irreversible Index :
Measure the condition that will not change e.g
DMFT
4/ Reversible Index:
Measure the conditions that can be changed
E.g amount of plaque present
5/ Full mouth index:
Measure the patient entire dentition e.g Russell’s
periodental index .
1/ Disease Index :
D (decayed) portion of DMFT index
2/ Symptom Index :
Measuring gingival bleeding
3/ Treatment Index :
F (filled) portion of DMFT
1/ Indices used in assessing oral hygiene:
a/ oral hygiene index
b/ oral hygiene simplified index
2/ Indices used in assessing plaque & debris:
a/ plaque index
3/ Indices used in assessing gingival
inflamation:
a/ gingival index
4/ Indices used in assessing periodental
disease:
a/ CPI – community periodental index
5/ Indices used in assessing dental caries:
a/ DMFT
b/ DMFS
c/ def
6/ Indices used in assessing dental fluorosis:
Deans’ fluorosis index
7/ Indices used in assessing malocclusion :
malalignment
It is composed of the combined :
1/ Debris Index
2/ Calculus index
Each of these index is based on 12 numerical
determinations represent the amount of debris
or calculus found on the buccal and lingual
surfaces of each of three segments of each
dental arch, namely
1/ The segment distal to the right cuspid
2/ The segment distal to the left cuspid
3/ The segment mesial to the right and left first
bicuspids .
Each segment is examined for debris or
calculus, from each segment one tooth is used
for calculating the individual index for that
particular segment, this tooth must have the
greatest area covered by debris or calculus.
Scores Criteria
0 No debris or stain present
1 Soft debris covering not more than
one third of tooth surface
2 Soft debris covering more than one
third but not more than two third of
tooth surface
3 Soft debris covering more than two
third of tooth surface
Scores Criteria
0 No calculus present
1 Supragingival calculus covering not
more than one third of tooth surface
2 Supragingival calculus covering more
than one third but not more than two
third of the exposed tooth surface or
presence of flecks of subgingival
calculus around the cervical portion of
the tooth
3 Supragingival calculus covering more
than two third of the exposed tooth
surface or continious heavy bands of
subgingival calculus around the
cervical portion of the tooth
The OHI-S differ from the OHI in the number of
the tooth surfaces scored , the method of
selecting the surfaces to be scored but the
criteria used for assigning scores are the same.
It also has two components, the debris and
calculus index .
Selection of tooth surfaces:
Buccal surface of upper right first molar
Lingual surface of lower left first molar
Labial surface of upper right and lower left
central incisors

61 6
6 16
0 – 1.2 Good

1.2 - 3 Fair

3.1 – 6 Poor
Describe the amount or the prevalence of dental
caries in an individual, they are obtained by
calculating the number of :
Decayed (D)
Missing (M)
Filled (F)
Teeth (T) or surfaces (S)
It is either calculated for 28 permanent teeth,
excluding the 4 wisdom teeth or for 32 teeth.
E.g DMFT of 4 -3 -9 = 16 means that 4 teeth are
decayed, 3 teeth are missing and 9 teeth have
fillings, it also means 12 teeth are intact.
If atooth has caries and filling it is calculated as
decayed (D)
DMFS is DMF calculated per tooth surface
DMFS. Molars & premolars are considered
having 5 surfaces , front teeth have 4 surfaces
Again asurface with caries and filling scored as
(D)
Primary teeth consist of maximum 20 teeth the
designation is (deft) .
Teeth not counted :
Missing teeth including unerupted and
congenitaly missing teeth not counted as (M).
Teeth restored for reasons other than dental
caries are not counted as (F).
Supernumerary teeth
Criteria and procedures are the same as DMFT.