Caries Risk Assessment of Paediatric Patients in Istanbul Using Cariogram

Objectives: Objectives: Caries risk assessment is an essential component in the decision-making process for the prevention and management of dental caries. The aims of this study were to assess the caries risk profiles of paediatric patients in Istanbul using Cariogram and to evaluate the contribution of various risk factors.
Methods: The study consisted of 126 patients (56 girls and 70 boys) attending to Paediatric Dentisty Clinics of Istanbul University, age 5-15 years, with a mean age of 10.17±2.40 years. Each tooth surface was examined and recorded as decayed, missing or filled tooth/surface; the oral hygiene and plaque amount were evaluated in accordance with Sillness and Löe plaque index. Stimulated whole saliva was collected to analyze levels of mutans streptococci (MS), lactobacilli (LB) and yeasts (Y); childrens’ oral health attitudes and dietary habits were evaluated by a questionnaire. The findings of clinical evalu­ation criterias, saliva tests and the questionnaire were entered into the Car­iogram program and grouped in three levels: low chance 0%-20%, moderate chance 21%-60%, and high chance 61%-100%. The data was statistically analyzed by Spearman’s rho correlation analysis and partial correlation analysis.
Results: The mean DMF, DMFS, df, dfs values were found as 3.07±2.12, 4.54±4.18, 5.84±3.92, 11.5±12.25, respectively. The Cariogram profiles revealed that 54.8% of the children had high chance of avoiding caries. High MS, LB and Y levels were found as 82.5%, 69.8% and 24.6%, respectively. Positive and statistically significant relationships were found between Cariogram scores and plaque indices (p<0.01), Cariogram scores and MS levels (p<0.01), Cariogram scores and LB (p<0.01), and Cariogram scores and Y (p<0.05).
Conclusions: The findings have demonstrated that Cariogram could be used as an effective and reliable method for the caries risk assessment.