Development and validation of a Childhood Early Oral Aging Syndrome index for the primary dentition as a diagnostic and epidemiological survey tool considering the current changes found in the pediatric population.

Development and validation of a Childhood Early Oral Aging Syndrome index for the primary dentition as a diagnostic and epidemiological survey tool considering the current changes found in the pediatric population.

The Childhood Early Oral Aging Syndrome index will be to investigate clinical signs and symptoms related to the early loss of dental structure associated with the most prevalent enamel defects, which significantly contribute to oral aging. The clinical management of tooth wear is also addressed in CEOAS scores 1, 2 and 3. Current indices used for non-carious conditions do not enable the concomitant investigation of enamel defects, which makes the proposed index innovative and of extreme important to epidemiological surveys. Understanding the prevalence of factors that either separately or synergically accelerate the process of early aging is useful to the establishment of novel treatment strategies.

The CEOAS index involves scores of 0 to 3 for the assessment of tooth wear and dental management, whereas scores of I, II and III are used concomitantly in cases of the presence of enamel defects, as show in Table 1

Content validation will not be performed in person. The online content validation form will be sent to the specialists with the items and criteria to be assessed (Table 1) CEOAS 0 Absence of signs CEOAS 1 Mild: Presence of clinical signs in reversible stages, without sensitivity. Such cases require follow-up.

CEOAS 2 Moderate: Presence of advanced signs with sensitivity and compromised function. Such cases require restorative treatment and management of the sensitivity.

CEOAS 3 Severe: Presence of severe signs with pulp involvement and the risk of the loss of the tooth. Such cases require more invasive and rehabilitative treatment.

CEOAS I Presence of PSMH - Demarcated opacities CEOAS II Presence of PSMH - Post-eruption fractures CEOAS III Presence of fluorosis