Dentist Notes

Indices

Community DentistryUpdated 4 min read
On this page 5 sections

General:

  1. Care index = Ratio of missing teeth to total teeth with caries experience
  2. 1942 = Dean flourosis index modified
  3. DFMT by 2025 by WHO = Below 1
  4. Gingival index = bleeding after 10 seconds = taken positive

💡Dental Indices — Complete Comparison

IndexMeasuresDeveloped byTeeth / surfaces examinedScoreInstrumentCumulative?Reversible?
DMFTCaries experienceKlein, Palmer & KnutsonAll permanent teeth (usually 28; 3rd molars excluded)D + M + FMouth mirror + probe✅ Yes❌ Score does not reverse
DMFSCaries experience by surfacesKlein et al.All permanent tooth surfacesD + M + F surfacesMouth mirror + probe✅ Yes❌
deftCaries experience in primary teethKlein et al. systemAll 20 primary teethd + e + fMouth mirror + probe✅ Yes❌
CPITNPeriodontal status + treatment needWHO/Ainamo group10 index teeth in classic system: 17,16,11,26,27 / 47,46,31,36,370–4WHO probe❌Partly
CPIPeriodontal statusWHOWHO-selected index teeth/sextants depending on age/system0–4WHO probe❌Partly
GIGingival inflammationLöe & Silness4 surfaces of selected teeth: facial, mesial, distal, lingual0–3Periodontal probe❌✅
Russell PIPeriodontal diseaseRussellAll teeth are examined0–8Periodontal probe❌Partly
PMAExtent of gingivitisSchour & MasslerAnterior teeth, especially labial gingiva0–3Visual❌✅
OHIDebris + calculusGreene & Vermillion12 surfaces0–6Mouth mirror + explorer❌✅/modifiable
OHI-SDebris + calculusGreene & Vermillion6 surfaces: 16B, 11L, 26B, 36L, 31L, 46L0–6Mouth mirror + explorer❌✅/modifiable
Dean's FIDental fluorosisH. Trendley DeanAll erupted teeth, but score based on the 2 most affected teeth0–4 + 0.5Visual❌❌
PDIGingivitis + periodontal destructionRamfjord6 Ramfjord teeth: 16, 21, 24, 36, 41, 440–6Periodontal probe❌Partly
PHPOral hygiene/plaquePodshadley & Haley6 selected teeth/surfaces0–5Probe + disclosing agent❌✅
PI (Silness-Löe)PlaqueSilness & Löe4 surfaces of selected teeth0–3Periodontal probe ± disclosing ag

Modified Gingival Index (MGI)

developed by Lobene et al. (1986), non-invasive scoring (without probing) is defined as:

  • 0: Normal (no inflammation, no redness, no edema).
  • 1: Mild inflammation – slight change in color and little change in texture of any portion of the marginal or papillary gingival unit.
  • 2: Mild inflammation – criteria as above, but involving the entire marginal or papillary gingival unit.
  • 3: Moderate inflammation – glazing, redness, edema, and/or hypertrophy of the marginal or papillary gingival unit.
  • 4: Severe inflammation – marked redness, edema, and/or hypertrophy of the marginal or papillary gingival unit, spontaneous bleeding, or ulceration.

💡MASTER PROBE TABLE

ProbeTip/shapeMarkingsMain useThink
WHO/CPITN ⭐0.5-mm ball3.5, 5.5, 8.5, 11.5; black 3.5–5.5CPITN/CPIWHO screening
Williams ⭐Straight1,2,3,5,7,8,9,10Routine PD4 & 6 missing
UNC-15 ⭐Straight/thin1–15 every mmDetailed chartingEvery mm
Nabers ⭐CurvedUsually 3,6,9,12FurcationFurcation
Michigan-OStraight3,6,8Routine periodontal exam3-6-8

💡Dean’s Fluorosis Index

the scoring criteria based on surface involvement are:

  • 0.5 – Questionable: Slight aberrations from normal translucency (a few white flecks or spots).
  • 1.0 – Very Mild: Small, paper-white opaque areas covering less than 25% of the tooth surface.
  • 2.0 – Mild: Opaque white lines/areas are more extensive, but involve less than 50% of the tooth surface.
  • 3.0 – Moderate: White opacity involves all enamel surfaces, accompanied by marked wear on attrition surfaces and brown staining.
  • 4.0 – Severe: All enamel surfaces affected with hypoplasia, discrete/confluent pitting, and disfiguring brown stains.

💡Thylstrup-Fejereskov Index

Modified in 1942

(TFI) Criteria (Scores 0–9):

• Score 0: Normal translucency of enamel remains after prolonged air-drying.
• Score 1: Narrow, fine white opaque lines tracing the perikymata across the surface.
• Score 2: White opaque lines are more pronounced and frequently merge to form small cloudy areas scattered over the whole surface area.
• Score 3: Merging of white lines produces broader cloudy areas; entire surface has a snow-capped or chalky appearance.
• Score 4: The entire enamel surface exhibits marked opacity (chalky white); attrition surfaces show loss of outer enamel (pits/cracks).
• Score 5: Entire surface is opaque with small round pits (enamel loss $< 2\text{ mm}$ in diameter).
• Score 6: Pits are more frequent and merge to form irregular bands of enamel loss ($< 50\%$ of surface area).
• Score 7: Loss of outermost enamel covers $> 50\%$ of the surface area.
• Score 8: Loss of outermost enamel involves the major part of the surface, leaving remaining outer enamel as rim-like structures.
• Score 9: Cervical margin and main parts of the enamel surface are destroyed; shape of the tooth may be changed.