A clinical television evaluation of plaque formation in children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of plaque formation in children and its relationship to their periodontal and caries indices and to evaluate a television area measurement instrument. Plaque formation at 6-, 24-, 48-, and 96-hour intervals was observed in 56 children aged 8 through 12 to establish the rapidity of its reformation after a thorough dental prophylaxis. The plaque was recorded with disclosing agents and oriented Polaroid photographs and measured by newly developed television and electronic area measurement instrumentation which proved to be highly reliable. The presence of caries and periodontal disease was then correlated with the amount of plaque recorded at each observation period. A high correlation was found between the Anterior P-M-A and the Periodontal Index. No significant correlations were found between the periodontal indices and the DMFs scores or with the amount of plaque present and the DMFs scores. Seventy-seven per cent of the children displayed measurable amounts of plaque just 6 hours after a thorough dental prophylaxis. In comparing the amount of plaque formed by these children with results reported from similar studies conducted on adults, it is apparent that children in this age group form more plaque in less time than adults. A significant correlation was found between the amount of plaque present and the periodontal indices at the 48-hour examination.