• Prevalence is depicted in cross-sectional studies.  It does not show current state of caries activity.

• DMF may not portray changes in oral health. "F" can be high while "D" may be low.   Increase in "F" usually means better oral health, while an increase   in "D" may indicate poorer oral care.

• Prevalence:
  • provides past history only.
  • does not provide rate of lesion development.
  • does not indicate if caries is active or inactive.
  • does not provide the frequency of occurrence of new lesions.

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