DMFT Index
Pronunciation: dee-em-ef-tee
Also written as: DMFT — Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth
A WHO-endorsed epidemiological index scoring the number of Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth in the permanent dentition of an individual or population.
Full Definition
The DMFT Index is a cumulative oral health measure used in epidemiological surveys, clinical trials, and public health reports. 'D' scores untreated carious lesions, 'M' records teeth lost to caries, and 'F' counts restored teeth. For primary (deciduous) dentition, the equivalent is the dmft or dmfs index (lower case), and editors must apply the correct capitalisation convention consistently. A score of 0 indicates a caries-free dentition. The index does not capture disease severity or non-carious tooth loss, a limitation that should be noted when editing comparative population studies.
Usage
Usage note: Use uppercase 'DMFT' for the permanent dentition index and lowercase 'dmft' for the primary dentition equivalent. The DMFS/dmfs variants score individual surfaces rather than whole teeth; ensure the correct version is cited for the study population.
In Context
- "The mean DMFT score among 12-year-olds surveyed was 1.4, indicating an improvement from the 2.1 recorded a decade earlier." — National oral health survey report
- "Authors should clarify whether the dmft or DMFT index was applied, as mixing primary and permanent dentition data invalidates cross-study comparisons." — Systematic review editorial comment