Evaluation of the risk of dental caries occurrence in children using the cariogram software

Abstract

Introduction: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease, characterized by a local destruction of hard tissues under the action of microorganisms. WHO places dental caries on the 3rd-4th place within health problems of the population, which offers it the characteristics of a social disease. It is im-portant to pay attention to the high prevalence, as well as to the early occurrence of dental caries in growing children. The objective is to evaluate the risk of caries in children using the Cariogram software.

Materials and methods: The clinical data of this study is based on the examination of 98 children aged 7-14. The methods of examination included collecting patient data; clinical and complemen-tary methods of examination. Oral hygiene index and DMFT were determined. The complex evaluation of caries risk was performed using the Cariogram software. The study was realized according to the ethic demands and with having signed the agreement forms by the chil-dren’s parents or their legal representants.

Discussion results: The influence of a series of factors was found in the majority of children involved in the study. A very low risk in caries was determined in 24,48% of the children, low risk - in 25,51%, medium - 26,53%, high - 19,38% and very high - 4,08%. An extreme caries risk was caused by deficient oral hygiene, high concentration of Streptococcus Mutans in saliva, lack of fluoridation etc.

Conclusions: The high risk in caries occurrence in children indicates the need of initiation of pre-vention programs targeting individual factors of caries development.