Importance of Dental Clinic Recalls for Caries Prevention in Children: Practice-Based Research

Objective: to investigate the association between caries incidence in children and the number of clinical preventive visits and follow-up period (intervals). Study Design: a 30-year cohort composed of the dental records of 600 children who were 12-23 months old at their first dental appointment and who were followed up to 12 years of age (200 followed since 1981, Group 1; 200 followed since 1991, Group 2; and 200 followed since 2001, Group 3) was analytically and quantitatively evaluated. Random sample calculation was performed with 95% confidence, a maximum error of 2.95% and a ratio of 50%. Results: association was found between caries incidence and the number of dental visits and consultation intervals. Children who attended a smaller number of preventive visits had a higher incidence of the disease. Children who had an interval between returns greater than 12 months had an 18.7-times greater caries risk compared to children who had intervals no longer than 8 months between return visits. Conclusions: preventive consultations with an average interval of up to 8 months seemed to increase family adherence to preventive procedures and acted as a protective factor against caries incidence in children.