Even though some instruments and methods exhibited good to excellent reliability and validity and can be recommended for research and clinical practice , they do not allow assessing all components of physical oral health .
OBJECTIVE This study aim ed at exploring available clinical instruments and methods for assessing physical oral health , and at identifying those with sufficient diagnostic performance .
An Abbreviated Caries Clinical Trial Design Validated over 24 Months
Conventional caries trials last from 24 to 36 months . This study evaluated whether the previously established difference in efficacy between 1000- and 2500-ppm-fluoride dentifrices could be detected after 12 months . Caries was assessed by clinical visual assessment ( CVA-simplified version of Dundee Selectable Threshold Method - DSTM ) ,  bitewing radiography , and Fiber Optic Transillumination ( FOTI ) . Changes in status for individual surfaces were classified by means of pre-prepared matrices as 0 ( unchanged ) , + 1 ( initiation or progression ) , or -1 ( regression ) and summed for each subject to yield an event score . Mean group event scores were calculated for each product . DSTM at the D1 [ enamel and dentin ] threshold showed significant inter-group differences in mean event scores ( p < 0.003 ) and D1MFS increment ( < 0.007 ) at 12 months ; these were confirmed at 24 months by traditional increment analysis ( CVA & FOTI at the D3 ( dentin only ) threshold + radiography , p < 0.03 ) . This study confirms the validity of an abbreviated trial protocol
Even though some instruments and methods exhibited good to excellent reliability and validity and can be recommended for research and clinical practice , they do not allow assessing all components of physical oral health .
OBJECTIVE This study aim ed at exploring available clinical instruments and methods for assessing physical oral health , and at identifying those with sufficient diagnostic performance .