Correção do componente p do índice cpos em uma população adulta brasileira

Experience in dental caries is measured by indices, DMFS being the one most frequently used. However, this index has undergone several criticisms, particularly in regard to its M-component. When 4 surfaces of an anterior tooth, or 5 surfaces of a posterior tooth are decayed, a tooth is considered lost, regardless of how much it is involved. The present study investigated if the M-component of the DMFS-index requires correction. One hundred and seventy-seven teeth extracted from 107 adult patients from the Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais were clinically and radiographically examined. When the sample was considered as a whole, the weighted mean value of carious surfaces in the extracted teeth was 3.0. The correction factor for the M-component was 3.5 for those up to 35 years of age, and 2.5 for those over 35. No gender differences were observed. Hence, it is necessary to propose a correction factor for the M-component of the DMFS-index for any population with a similar prevalence of dental caries.