Caries risk assessment in dental practices by dentists from a Brazilian community

Abstract

Data on dental practices related to caries risk assessment (CRA) are scarce among Brazilian dentists. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of CRA use by dentists and factors associated with its use, as well as to quantify dentists' ratings of the importance of specific factors when treatment planning. Dentists registered at the Regional Council of Dentistry of São Paulo State-Araraquara region were sent two paper questionnaires that comprised: a) characteristics of dentists themselves, their practices, and their patients; and b) the translated version of the "Assessment of Caries Diagnosis and Caries Treatment" Questionnaire from the U.S. National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. Participants were 206 dentists who currently practiced in Araraquara and treated dental caries. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses were used for data analysis. Thirty-six percent of the dentists reported they perform CRA and, among them, 36% indicated they record the assessment on a special form that is kept in the patient chart. More years since dental school graduation (OR = 1.1, p = 0.002) and holding an advanced academic degree (OR=2.6, p=0.005) were associated with a higher likelihood of performing CRA, whereas exclusively using a private practice model (OR = 0.5, p = 0.016) was associated with a lower likelihood of performing CRA. The current oral hygiene and commitment to return for follow-up were the most important risk factors for treatment planning. In conclusion, CRA was not a routine procedure in daily practice among the majority of participating dentists. Specific demographic, practice and academic education characteristics were associated with performing CRA.

A mixed methods approach to obtaining health care provider feedback for the development of a Canadian pediatric dental caries risk assessment tool for children <6 years

“…Dental and non-dental health care providers can apply baseline risk categories in predicting caries existence or progression and apply basic prevention treatments to arrest early onset of caries or make referrals to dentists for additional disease management. It has been shown that health care provider risk assessments accurately predict ECC progression ( 10 , 18 ). Some non-dental primary health care providers might even conduct basic therapeutic/preventive treatments such as applying fluoride varnish with necessary supports ( 19 ).…”

Primary Dentition Caries Patterns as Predictors of Permanent Dentition Caries: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…Some implications for clinical practice should be addressed. In Brazil, only one-third of dentists report using a caries risk assessment tool and only 13% record their assessment in the clinical chart [Tagliaferro et al 2020]. Using the clinical presentation of caries in the primary dentition to indicate caries risk in the permanent dentition represents a simple and practical clinical parameter that requires no additional technology or expense; the dentist needs only identify non-cavitated lesions, which is standard care in pediatric dental practice.…”