Caries risk assessment in Bosnian children using Cariogram computer model.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Public Health
• Oral Health Research

Background:

• Dental caries remains a significant public health concern among children.
• Assessing caries risk is crucial for developing effective preventive strategies.
• Socioeconomic status can influence oral health outcomes and caries risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate caries risk in 12-year-old children using the Cariogram model.
• To analyze caries risk profiles based on socioeconomic background.
• To correlate caries risk with various contributing factors in children.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 109 twelve-year-old children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in Sarajevo.
• Data collection included general health, diet, fluoride use, DMFT, plaque scores, and salivary analysis (mutans streptococci, lactobacillus, buffering capacity).
• The Cariogram model was utilized to calculate individual caries risk profiles for each child.

Main Results:

• The majority of children presented a medium caries risk, with a 59.4% probability of avoiding future caries.
• Dominant risk factors identified in the Cariogram profiles were diet (12.5%), bacteria (10.8%), susceptibility (9.7%), and circumstances (7.4%).
• Children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds exhibited significantly higher caries risk and less favorable risk profiles.

Conclusions:

• The Cariogram model is a valuable tool for determining caries risk profiles in children across different socioeconomic statuses.
• Findings underscore the importance of socioeconomic factors in caries development.
• The model can inform the development of targeted preventive interventions to reduce caries risk in pediatric populations.