Name the measure
State the exact index, dentition and recording unit.
MEDIVEERSETHE PRACTICAL HUBOBSERVE / REASON / EXPLAIN
Dental indices and interpretation
Explain the meaning and limitations of a selected oral-health index.
Your practical station
An examiner asks you to explain a caries index result. State the dentition and recording unit before interpreting the number.
Recognise and interpret
An index summarises findings using defined criteria and a specified unit of observation.
Apply criteria
Distinguish components and exclusions according to the protocol.
Interpret
Explain what the result measures and what it cannot establish.
At the viva table
Try answering aloud, then open the suggested answer. Examiner questions vary.
01 / Are DMFT and dmft used for the same dentition?
Uppercase DMFT conventionally refers to permanent teeth; lowercase dmft to primary teeth.
02 / Does an index score describe every aspect of oral health?
No. Each measure has a defined scope.
03 / Why distinguish a tooth-based and a surface-based measure?
They use different units and are not interchangeable.
04 / Can populations be compared without checking criteria?
Not reliably. Definitions and methods must be comparable.