Assessment of caries diagnostic thresholds of DMFT, ICDAS II and CAST in the estimation of caries prevalence rate in first permanent molars in early permanent dentition-a cross-sectional study.

Enamel caries lesions were found in more than half of the FPMs investigated in the current study. CAST index is preferable because it detects the complete spectrum of caries. ICDAS II at codes 1-6 and CAST at codes 3-7 projected similar caries prevalence rates in FPMs.