Caries risk assessment in schoolchildren - a form based on Cariogram® software

Abstract

Identifying caries risk factors is an important measure which contributes to best understanding of the cariogenic profile of the patient. The Cariogram® software provides this analysis, and protocols simplifying the method were suggested.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine whether a newly developed Caries Risk Assessment (CRA) form based on the Cariogram® software could classify schoolchildren according to their caries risk and to evaluate relationships between caries risk and the variables in the form.Material and Methods150 schoolchildren aged 5 to 7 years old were included in this survey. Caries prevalence was obtained according to International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) II. Information for filling in the form based on Cariogram® was collected clinically and from questionnaires sent to parents. Linear regression and a forward stepwise multiple regression model were applied to correlate the variables included in the form with the caries risk.ResultsCaries prevalence, in primary dentition, including enamel and dentine carious lesions was 98.6%, and 77.3% when only dentine lesions were considered. Eighty-six percent of the children were classified as at moderate caries risk. The forward stepwise multiple regression model result was significant (R2=0.904; p<0.00001), showing that the most significant factors influencing caries risk were caries experience, oral hygiene, frequency of food consumption, sugar consumption and fluoride sources.ConclusionThe use of the form based on the Cariogram® software enabled classification of the schoolchildren at low, moderate and high caries risk. Caries experience, oral hygiene, frequency of food consumption, sugar consumption and fluoride sources are the variables that were shown to be highly correlated with caries risk.

Are standardized caries risk assessment models effective in assessing actual caries status and future caries increment? A systematic review

“…Children with a cleft lip and/or palate and non-cleft controls classified in the Cariogram high-risk category had a higher caries experience [ 21 ]. A significant linear regression between mean dmft and caries risk categories assessed according to a form based on the Cariogram was found in children from low-income families ( p < 0.01) [ 22 ]. A statistically significant association between caries experience and Cariogram categories was found ( p < 0.01) in Indian children [ 23 ].…”

Risk Factors Associated with Carious Lesions in Permanent First Molars in Children: A Seven-Year Retrospective Cohort Study

“…The most used in clinical practice are CAMBRA (Caries Management by Risk Assessment) and Cariogram (complete or excluding data relative to bacterial levels, salivary flow, and buffer potential). The majority of studies regarding children report a significant association between the "high-risk" category, assigned using these models, and the present or future state of caries development [29][30][31]. Nonetheless, the predictive potential of the different models used to evaluate the risk of caries applied to the same population are different, both in longitudinal and cross-sectional studies [30,32].…”

Caries-risk profiles in Italian adults using computer caries assessment system and ICDAS

“…software has been developed and validated to illustrate graphically the chance of an individual avoiding caries in the near future. 9,10,11,12 Cariogram has been used to predict caries in children, 12 adults 13,14,15,16,17,18,19 and the elderly, 20 and the scientific evidence regarding its prediction efficiency is still questionable. For adults, despite some studies reporting a high predictive value for Cariogram risk levels, 13,18 other studies have not found a correlation between caries experience and any single risk factor proposed by Cariogram.…”