New Study Demonstrates the Accuracy of Caries Risk Assessment

New Study Demonstrates the Accuracy of Caries Risk Assessment

Assessing patients’ caries risk is key to developing effective, personalized prevention and treatment plans, according to University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry researchers. They recently published a study—“Caries Risk Assessment Item Importance: Risk Designation and Caries Status in Children Under Age 6”—on their protocol called caries management by risk assessment (CAMBRA) in the July issue of Journal of Dental Research Clinical & Translational Research. An evidence-based approach, CAMBRA focuses on assessing risk and remineralizing or minimally restoring early caries lesions, when needed. The protocol addresses the complete disease process instead of just the cavitated lesion.

Based on the study sampling, in which it was determined that the risk assessments performed by oral health professionals were accurate in determining the risk of future decay, 3,810 pediatric patients at UCSF were examined. Each of their parents/caregivers completed a 17-question form regarding environmental factors and behavioral factors known to contribute to caries (drinking fluoridated water, snacking habits, socioeconomic status). Patients were then categorized as low risk or high risk based on the questionnaire responses. The predictive value of these assessments was also evaluated in an additional group of 1,315 patients between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. Among low-risk patients, 20% presented with tooth decay at the follow-up visit. Conversely, 70% of those listed as high risk presented with decay at the follow-up visit.  

CAMBRA, the researchers state, helps oral health professionals account for factors known to influence oral health status. This insight helps tailor their approach to care and allows for modifications of behavior (preventive) vs treatment of symptoms. Personalized treatment based on risk assessment fully embraces the ideology of prevention as the best medicine.

Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter

August 2016