Conclusion

Dental caries is a serious public health issue and collecting data on its prevalence, incidence, and trends is an important field in oral epidemiology. The DMF index is a standard method for assessing dental caries experience in populations. While linear increases in caries with age in both children and adults indicate that caries affects individuals throughout life, longitudinal surveys indicate a decline in dental caries experience over the past two decades, yet dental caries remains a prevalent oral disease among the children and adults.

For dental professionals, understanding epidemiological data is crucial for implementing evidence-based interventions and guiding patients in caries prevention. Effectively communicating this data can enhance patient trust, compliance, and adherence to oral care recommendations, making prevention efforts more impactful.