Journal vol.10 no.1 abstract1 of The Japan Health Care Dental Association

The Journal of The Japan Health Care Dental Association Vol.10 No.1, 2008
abstract

Seiichi Sugiyama, DDS

In order to detect the degree of caries development, the detection code, C1 to C4, has been used in Japan and D1 to D4, etc outside of Japan. However, these detection codes are not used for incipient caries that do not exhibit any carious cavity. Therefore, patients without a carious cavity are diagnosed as "Caries Free" patients. However, among the periodic cared patients, caries develop slowly. Furthermore, incipient caries on a smooth-surface may re-calcify to a healthy condition. Accordingly, the assessment of caries control needs the criteria to detect incipient caries. Thus, 36 patients were selected from the Sugiyama Dental Office: ① patients between 11 and 15-years-old and visit once or more a year for a dental care ②　patients who visited for dental care at the 15-years-old between Aug.1, 2004 and July 31, 2005. Their tooth surface conditions were compared with their past intraoral pictures by ICDAS ⅡCode and with their radiographies by six step code(XR). The results show that the total number of the filled tooth surfaces dropped to 3 surfaces from 10 surfaces and that the DMFS increased slightly from 0.56 to 0.81, 0.97, 1.03 and 1.14. They also show that the numbers of sealant filled teeth increased from 2.17 to 2.47, 3.00, 3.81 and to 4.11. Among the 20 patients with "No Filling", only 9 patients did not show any lesion. 11 patients with lesions were given dental treatment and home-care to re-calcify the lesion. Our goal "Caries Free" must be reconsidered.