Predicting Caries Risk at 30-months of age in Medical Settings

Objectives: Expanded partnership with the medical community is a necessary strategy for reducing disparities in dental caries among young children. Objective: Develop a caries risk tool to identify toddlers at risk of developing caries by age 4 through medical settings.
Methods: To date, a psychometrically defensible, 52-item caries risk questionnaire was completed by primary caregivers (PCG), while children received caries examinations using the ICDAS criteria, at baseline (child 12±3 months-of-age), and 18 months after (child 30±3 months-of-age). 1056 children (out of 1326 recruited) from 3 study sites, stratified by race/ethnicity and Medicaid status, completed 18-month exams. Caries (dmft; d=ICDAS≥3) was assessed and tested for association with each questionnaire item individually using generalized estimating equation models applied to logistic regression.
Results: Children were 49% female, 13% Hispanic/41% White/33% Black/2% Other/10% Multi-racial, 58% on Medicaid, and 95% lived in urban communities. 93% of PCG were the mother. 7% of children had cavitated caries lesions at 18-month exams. Minority [Black>White (odds-ratio-OR=3.97), Hispanic>White (OR=3.92), Other>White (OR=13.63), BlackConclusions: Minority, Medicaid, and rural children had higher caries rates at 30 months-of-age. Several questions were associated with cavitated caries at 30 months-of-age. Supported by NIH Grant Number U01 DE021412.