Decay-missing-filled index

{{Short description|Measurement of dental health}}

The decay-missing-filled (DMF) index or decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index is one of the most common methods in oral epidemiology for assessing dental caries prevalence as well as dental treatment needs among populations and has been used for about 75 years.{{cite journal | pmc = 1388190 | pmid=16262607 | doi=10.1111/j.1600-0528.2005.00259.x | volume=33 | title=For debate: problems with the DMF index pertinent to dental caries data analysis | year=2005 | journal=Community Dent Oral Epidemiol | pages=400–9 | author=Broadbent JM, Thomson WM| issue=6 }} This index is based on in-field clinical examination of individuals by using a probe, mirror and cotton rolls, and simply counts the number of decayed, missing (due to caries only) and restored teeth. Another version proposed in 1931 counts each affected surface, yielding a decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (DMFS) index. Statistics are available per populations according to age (e.g., "DMF of 12-year old children"). Because the DMF index is done without X-ray imaging, it underestimates real caries prevalence and treatment needs.{{cite journal |author=Zadik Yehuda, Bechor Ron |title=Hidden Occlusal Caries - Challenge for the Dentist |journal=New York State Dental Journal |volume=74 |issue=4 |pages=46–50 |date=June–July 2008 |url=http://www.nysdental.org/img/current-pdf/JrnlJuneJuly2008.pdf |accessdate=2008-08-08 |pmid=18788181 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722002339/http://www.nysdental.org/img/current-pdf/JrnlJuneJuly2008.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-22 |url-status=dead }}