315 Retrospective Assessment of Caries Experience Among U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen

Thursday, March 22, 2012: 2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Presentation Type: Poster Session
M. STRATMEYER, Comprehensive Dentistry, Naval Postgraduate Dental School, Bethesda, MD, K.E. DIEFENDERFER, Dental Research, Naval Postgraduate Dental School, Bethesda, MD, and T.M. LEIENDECKER, Tri-Service Center for Oral Health Studies, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Objectives:   To assess the 4-year caries incidence (from matriculation to graduation) among U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman.

Methods: Dental records (n=300) from a total population of 1006 midshipmen from the 2011 graduating class at U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD were randomly selected for review.  Patients were assigned a caries risk status based on the number of caries lesions recorded at the initial examination (Low = 0 lesions; Moderate = 1-2 lesions; High = 3+ lesions).  For each risk category, caries prevalence (DMFS, DMFT, incipient surfaces) and caries incidence were calculated based on findings recorded at the initial (E1), third-year (E2), and fourth-year (E3) examinations. 

Results: The gender distribution included 239 males (79.7%) and 61 females (20.3%); median age was 18 years (range=17–22).  Initial examination identified 74% of the patients as low-risk, 18% moderate-risk, and 8% high-risk.  Caries prevalence (mean DMFS, DMFT, incipient surfaces) and caries incidence were significantly different for each risk group at each examination (Low<Moderate<High; one-way ANOVA, p<0.05) (Table).  Compared to low-risk patients, the number of incipient surfaces at E3 and total caries incidence were 2X greater for moderate-risk and 4X greater for high-risk patients (repeated-measures ANOVA, p<0.05). 

Conclusions: Caries experience was consistently greater for moderate- and high-risk patients at all examinations.  Caries history and current disease status reliably predict future caries experience in this young adult population.

Examination

DMFS

DMFT 

Incipiencies

(surfaces per patient)

Caries Incidence (surfaces per patient)

 

Low

Mod

High

Low

Mod

High

Low

Mod

High

Low

Mod

High

E1

4.13

6.38

12.69

2.05

4.31

8.00

0.25

0.76

2.09

--

--

--

E2

4.61

7.57

15.14

2.38

4.85

9.35

0.74

1.26

3.17

0.53

1.30

3.00

E3

4.90

8.45

16.11

2.92

5.85

11.26

0.77

2.10

3.83

0.45

0.82

1.39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Caries Incidence:

0.98

2.12

4.39

 

 


Keywords: Caries, Caries Risk and Epidemiology
See more of: Cariology: Epidemiological and Clinical Studies
See more of: Cariology Research - Clinical and Epidemiological Studies
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