Evaluation of DMFT index and Significant Caries Index in 12-year-old students in Sirjan, Kerman

Dental caries is the most common infectious and transmissible disease of the teeth. Significant Caries Index is one of the indices defined by WHO to identify individuals who have the highest DMFT (Decayed، Missing، Filled teeth). The aim of this study was to evaluate DMFT index and Significant Caries Index in 12-year-old male students in Sirjan. In this cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study seven hundred 12-year-old students from Sirjan، selected by systematic cluster-randomized sampling، were evaluated. Data were collected by examination and a questionnaire. The teeth were examined with a blunt-tip dental explorer، a dental mirror and illumination by torchlight. The questionnaire consisted of questions on parents’ educational level، birth rank of the student، number of children in family، toothbrushing frequency، fluoride use and dental visit status. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16 using t-test and one-way ANOVA (α = 0. 05). The mean of DMFT and SiC indices were 3. 56 ± 2. 34 and 6. 04 ± 1. 32، respectively. There were significant relationships between DMFT index and the number of children in the family (p value = 0. 016)، birth rank (p value = 0. 042)، toothbrushing frequency (p value = 0. 000) and fluoride use (p value = 0. 042). However، there were no significant relationships between DMFT index and parent’s educational level (p value = 0. 047) and dental visits (p value = 0. 198). The means of DMFT and SiC indices in 12-year-old students in Sirjan were higher than standards defined by WHO. Furthermore، the number of children in the family، birth rank، toothbrushing frequency and fluoride use had significant effects on dental caries in students.