DMFT Index
DMFT (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth) Index · Also known as: DMF index, DMF score, DMFT score
The DMFT (Decayed, Missing due to caries, Filled) Index is a standardized epidemiological measure of dental caries experience in permanent dentition. Developed by Klein, Palmer, and Knutson in 1938, it quantifies the number of permanent teeth that are decayed, missing due to caries, or filled due to caries. The DMFT Index remains the most widely used caries index globally, enabling comparison of oral health across populations and tracking disease burden over time.
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When to use it
Use DMFT to assess and compare caries burden in populations aged 12 years and older (after permanent dentition is complete). It is particularly valuable for epidemiological surveys, clinical trials evaluating preventive interventions, and public health monitoring. Assume teeth are permanent and fully erupted; DMFT is unsuitable for mixed or primary dentition (use dmef or deft instead). Prefer DMFT over individual component scores when a single summary statistic is needed.
Strengths & limitations
- Simple, non-invasive assessment requiring minimal equipment and training
- Highly standardized global index enabling cross-population and longitudinal comparisons
- Captures cumulative caries experience, reflecting long-term disease burden
- Widely recognized by public health agencies (WHO, CDC) and epidemiological research
- Relatively quick to administer, facilitating large-scale surveys
- Does not distinguish between active (decayed) and inactive/arrested caries lesions
- Sensitive to clinician subjectivity, particularly in detecting smooth-surface caries and secondary caries
- Cannot account for reasons for missing teeth (extraction due to caries vs. orthodontics vs. trauma); requires clinician judgment
- Does not capture severity of decay or complexity of restorations
- Cannot be used in primary or mixed dentition without modification (dmf or dmef index needed)
Frequently asked
Should DMFT be used in patients with mixed or primary dentition?
No. DMFT is designed exclusively for permanent dentition. For primary dentition, use the dmf (decayed, missing due to caries, filled primary teeth) index; for mixed dentition, use deft or combine dmf and DMFT scores separately.
How do I code missing teeth in DMFT if I am unsure whether caries was the cause?
Include the tooth as 'Missing due to caries' (M) only if clinical evidence or patient history confirms caries as the cause. If extraction reason is unclear or due to trauma, orthodontics, or other causes, exclude the tooth from the M count. Document your assumption.
If a tooth has both decay and a filling, how is it scored?
Classify the tooth in the most severe category present. If a tooth has untreated decay adjacent to a previous filling, record it as Decayed (D); if the decay is arrested and the tooth is permanently filled, score as Filled (F).
Is DMFT the same as cavity rate or caries prevalence?
No. DMFT measures disease experience (number of affected teeth) but does not indicate disease prevalence (proportion of the population with any caries). To calculate prevalence, divide the number of individuals with DMFT ≥1 by the total population examined.
Sources
- Klein, H., Palmer, C. E., & Knutson, J. W. (1938). Studies on dental caries: I. Dental status and dental needs of elementary school children. Public Health Reports, 53(32), 1259-1274. DOI: 10.2307/4582532 ↗
- World Health Organization. (2013). Oral health surveys: Basic methods (5th ed.). WHO. link ↗
- Pitts, N. B., Zero, D. T., Marsh, P. D., et al. (2017). Dental caries. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 3, 17030. DOI: 10.1038/nrdp.2017.30 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). DMFT (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth) Index. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/dentistry/dmft-index
Which method?
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