Attitudes of Dental Students and Young Dentists Towards Caries-risk Assessment

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of dental students and young dentists towards the assessment of caries-risk and its impact on their choice of caries treatment.
Methods: A total of 202 respondents filled in the internet questionnaire. Five questions were related to attitudes and knowledge about caries-risk assessment in clinical practice, and 15 were related to the impact of different factors on caries-risk. The choice of treatment according to caries-risk was analyzed in 7 clinical cases of smooth surface caries and occlusal caries. Chi-square test was used in statistical analysis.
Results: One hundred and twenty two (60%) respondents do not perform caries-risk assessment in their clinical practice. However, 193 (95%) agreed that caries-risk should influence dental treatment. Oral hygiene was regarded as the most important factor, while the age of patient was valuated as the factor of the lowest impact on caries-risk assessment. The analysis of clinical cases showed that caries-risk affects the choice of treatment, and that more invasive treatment is chosen in high caries-risk patients. Significant differences between students and young doctors were found regarding the choice of treatment for occlusal caries (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Caries-risk assessment is not widely performed among students and young dentists in Serbia and their knowledge is insufficient. Caries-risk influences the choice of therapy, but invasive treatment is still commonly preferred.