[Determination of caries risk in federal soldiers]

Using Dentocult/Dentobuff the "caries risk" was determined in 102 adult test persons three times within a period of 44 weeks and correlated with clinical and radiological study results (Spearman rank correlation, multiple calculation of correlation and regression). The patients were given dental treatment as required during the study period. A close correlation was seen between the individual Dentocult measurements taken at different times, which speaks for relative constancy in these measured values in individual test persons. No significant correlation with the overall increase in caries was found and did not become apparent until cases of caries were categorised as primary, secondary and smooth-surface types. The correlation coefficient was, however, low at R = 0.2-0.4. The prognostic value of the Dentocult/Dentobuff system was at best about 50%. A connection between the caries risk test and clinical parameters became evident in the presence of localised retention. On the whole, however, it must be said that our studies do not show that this method makes it possible to prognosticate the caries risk in individual patients.