S3 Dental Indices

Index (dental)

A way of expressing clinical observations by using numbers.

Simple index

Measures the presence or absence of a condition.

Cumulative index

Measures all the evidence of a condition, past and present.

Irreversible index

Measures conditions that will not change.

Reversible index

Measures conditions that can be changed.

Disclosing agent

Harmless vegetable dyes that temporarily stain bacterial plaque to highlight missed spots.

Debris

Soft foreign material (biofilm, materia alba, food debris) loosely attached to teeth.

BOP

Bleeding upon probing; indicates gingival inflammation and progression of periodontal disease.

Biofilm control record

Records presence of biofilm on tooth surfaces to help patients visualize progress.

Biofilm free score

Determines the location, number, and percentage of biofilm-free surfaces.

Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S)

Assess oral cleanliness by estimating tooth surfaces covered with debris and/or calculus.

Community periodontal index (CPI)

Used to screen and monitor the periodontal status of populations.

Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI)

Locates areas of gingival sulcus bleeding and color changes to record inflammation.

Gingival bleeding index (GBI)

Records presence or absence of gingival inflammation determined by interproximal sulci bleeding.

Eastman Interdental Bleeding Index

Assesses presence of inflammation in the interdental area by bleeding presence or absence.

Gingival Index (GI)

Assesses severity of gingivitis based on color, consistency, and bleeding on probing.

Clinical Trial

Determines the effect of an agent/procedure on disease prevention, progression, or control.

Epidemiology

The study of disease characteristics of populations rather than individuals.

DMFT

Decayed, missing, and filled teeth in permanent dentition.

Community oral health assessment

Process of identifying factors that affect the oral health status of a population.

DMFT and DMFS purpose

To determine total dental caries experience (past/present) in permanent dentition.

Primary Dentition dmf

Determines dental caries experience for children; only primary teeth are evaluated.