Cross-sectional study on white spot lesions and its association with dental caries experience among school children

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the association of white spot lesions (WSLs) with existing dental caries experience and other clinical parameters among children aged 7–12 years. Design: A cross-sectional comparative study on 407 children using Nyvad’s caries diagnostic criteria was performed on the permanent first incisors and molars. Accordingly, they were grouped as cases (presence of caries) and controls (sound). The data pertaining to sociodemographic variables and clinical variables of oral hygiene index (OHI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (DMFS-dmfs), eruption degree of first permanent molars, and number of WSLs were subjected to bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression to identify the predictor variables for the caries lesion activity. Results: Relatively higher DMFS-dmfs scores, the number of WSLs, GBI, and OHI were recorded among the cases. In multiple logistic regression analysis, WSL ≥ 1 (OR = 18.78; CI 9.74–36.21, p = 0.0001), DMFS-dmfs + WSL ≥ 20 (OR = 30.75; CI 1.8–525.28, p = 0.0001), GBI > 0.5 (OR = 8.46; CI 4.05–17.66, p = 0.0001); OHI > 1.2 (OR = 2.83; CI 1.11–7.23, p = 0.03) were found to be significant predictors for the cases. Conclusion: It is important to be cognizant of the initiation of caries in children through the initial stages so that efforts can be pooled in towards prevention rather than extensive curative measures. Clinical significance: In routine clinical examinations, WSLs are seldom detected. An insight into these lesions can help the dentists’ to strategize the preventive measures enabling a reduction in total dental caries experience, burden of disease, and improved quality of life.