Correlation between age and DMFT score in an urban community: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Dental caries remains a major public health problem affecting adolescents and adults, particularly in urban populations. The Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index is widely used to assess caries experience. Understanding the correlation between age and DMFT scores is important for developing targeted preventive strategies. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between age and DMFT score among adolescents and adults in an urban community. Methods: This analytic observational study employed a cross-sectional design involving 150 participants aged 15–40 years from Kelurahan Pegirian, Surabaya. Participants were selected using purposive sampling based on predefined eligibility criteria. Dental caries experience was assessed using the DMFT index through clinical examination. Age was analyzed as both a continuous variable and categorized into three groups (15–18, 19–30, and 31–40 years). Statistical analysis included the Spearman rank correlation test and the Kruskal–Wallis test, with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The overall mean DMFT score was 4.13 ± 3.19. The mean DMFT scores were 5.20 ± 3.90 in the 15–18 years group, 4.90 ± 3.00 in the 19–30 years group, and 2.80 ± 2.60 in the 31–40 years group. A weak negative correlation was observed between age and DMFT scores (r=−0.20, p=0.015). Significant differences in DMFT scores were found between age groups (p=0.021), with lower scores observed in the 31–40 years group compared to the younger age groups. Conclusion: Dental caries experience showed variation across age groups and tended to be higher in adolescents and young adults. The weak negative correlation suggests that factors beyond age may play a more important role in influencing caries experience. Strengthening preventive strategies during early life stages may help reduce the long-term disease burden.