Does caries risk assessment predict the incidence of caries for special needs patients requiring general anesthesia?

The aim of this study was to correlate the caries-related variables of special needs patients to the incidence of new caries.

Data for socio-demographic information and dental and general health status were obtained from 110 patients treated under general anesthesia because of their insufficient co-operation. The Cariogram program was used for risk assessment and other caries-related variables were also analyzed. Within a defined follow-up period (16.3 ± 9.5 months), 64 patients received dental examinations to assess newly developed caries.

At baseline, the mean (SD) values of the DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) and DT (decayed teeth) for the total patients were 9.2 (6.5) and 5.8 (5.3), respectively. During the follow-up period, new caries occurred in 48.4% of the patients and the mean value (SD) of the increased DMFT (iDMFT) was 2.1 (4.2). The patients with a higher increment of caries (iDMFT ≥3) showed significantly different caries risk profiles compared to the other patients (iDMFT <2) (p < 0.05). Close correlations existed between the caries increment and several caries-related variables; baseline DMFT, insufficient self-tooth-brushing and malocclusion were greatly associated with new caries development.

Caries risk assessment could predict the incidence of future caries in hospital-based dentistry. Past caries experience and inadequate oral hygiene maintenance were largely related to caries development in special needs patients.