Study of ICDAS and QLF in Primary Teeth

Objectives: To investigate the combination use of ICDAS (International Caries Detection and Assessment System), and QLF (Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence) in determining the preventive effect of six months remineralization paste application on primary teeth. Methods: Two hundred and sixty preschool children aged 30-42 months from 10 nursery schools in central part of Thailand were recruited for a double blind randomized clinical trial. ICDAS II was performed for all children at schools by one pediatric dentist. Then, children were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention and placebo. After that, initial enamel lesions (ICDAS 1-2) on labial surface of upper anterior teeth of ninety-seven children were examined by using QLF. The pastes were applied by trained teachers once a day at school. ICDAS and QLF were performed again after six months. Results: At baseline, the mean numbers of visibly noncavitated enamel lesions (ICDAS 2) of both groups were 9.14±0.56 and 10.11±0.70. The percent fluorescence loss(%DeltaF) of initial enamel lesions (assessed by QLF) were -13.81±0.61 and -13.41±0.60. After six months application, compared to baseline there was a decrease in mean number of ICDAS 2 in both groups (-0.06±0.34 and -0.43±0.38, p=0.47). Concurrently, a reduction in %DeltaF was also found (0.68±0.04 and 1.53±0.44, p=0.18). ICDAS and QLF provided agreeable trend, with no statistical significant, that indicated more remineralization on enamel carious lesions in the supposed intervention group. Conclusions: ICDAS and QLF are possible effective tools that can be simultaneously used in monitoring remineralization on enamel carious lesion by preventive measure in primary teeth. (NIH D43 TW007768)