Assessment of Dental Caries Status Using Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (Cast) Index

Aim: The study is aimed to assess the dental caries status in patients visiting the Department of Oral Medicine, Radiology and Special Care dentistry in Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals using Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment Index (CAST).

Background: A new epidemiological index is introduced for assessment of dental caries which is known as Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST). Spectrum is considered as backbone of this index which covers the entire carious lesion progression from no caries to caries involving enamel, dentin and pulp. It also includes codes for teeth that has developed an abscess/fistula in relation to carious teeth and teeth lost due to dental caries.

Materials and Method: The study population was patients visiting the Department of Oral Medicine, Radiology and Special Care Dentistry in Saveetha Dental College during the month of January 2019.The patients who were aged between 20-50 were included randomly and all third molars, any developmental dental anomalies and those undergoing orthodontic treatment were excluded. The patient’s dental caries status was examined using mouth mirror, periodontal probe under proper illumination and was recorded in a predesigned proforma.

Results: From the study we find that 82.64% were caries free, 2.57% had restorations, 1.35% had enamel caries which gives us the information that 86.56 % can be considered healthy (caries free). The lesion involving the dentin were 2.13% and pulp were 5.78%, which leads us that about 7.91% are caries affected. The advanced stage of carious lesion which is abscess or fistula were 0.92% and the teeth lost due to dental caries was 3%.

Conclusion: Our study concludes the CAST index presents a simple hierarchical structure of carious lesion spectrum and is a promising index for epidemiological studies with complex quantifiability.