In the DMFS index, what does the 'S' denote?

In the DMFS index, what does the 'S' denote?

• A. Teeth
• B. Sound surfaces
• C. Surfaces
• D. Segments

Answer: (C)

The unit being tested is that caries experience is measured by the number of affected tooth surfaces, not just by counting teeth. In DMFS, each tooth can have multiple surfaces (such as mesial, distal, facial/labial, lingual, and occlusal), and caries status is tallied for each surface separately. The S in DMFS stands for Surfaces, indicating that the index sums decayed, missing, and filled surfaces across the entire dentition. This surface-level approach makes the index more precise and sensitive than counting teeth alone—e.g., a molar with decay on two surfaces contributes two to the decayed surfaces count.

The unit being tested is that caries experience is measured by the number of affected tooth surfaces, not just by counting teeth. In DMFS, each tooth can have multiple surfaces (such as mesial, distal, facial/labial, lingual, and occlusal), and caries status is tallied for each surface separately. The S in DMFS stands for Surfaces, indicating that the index sums decayed, missing, and filled surfaces across the entire dentition. This surface-level approach makes the index more precise and sensitive than counting teeth alone—e.g., a molar with decay on two surfaces contributes two to the decayed surfaces count.