Caries risk assessment in children: experimental study on the effectiveness of the C.A.M.B.R.A. system
Authors
S Caruso
Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Paediatric Dentistry, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila
V D’Antò
School of Orthodontics, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Oral Science, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples
S Caruso
Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Paediatric Dentistry, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila
G Botticelli
Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Paediatric Dentistry, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila
M Di Carlo
Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Paediatric Dentistry, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila
R Gatto
Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Paediatric Dentistry, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila
L Lisi
Visiting Professor- International University of Gorazde
F Emiliani
Private Practice
F Fiasca
Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Paediatric Dentistry, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila
A Mattei
Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Paediatric Dentistry, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila
G Di Fabio
Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Paediatric Dentistry, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila
GF Ferrazzano
UNESCO Chair in Health Education and Sustainable Development, Paediatric Dentistry Section, University of Naples "Federico II", 80138 Naples, Italy - U.N. - E.U. International Research Project on Human Health, Geneva, Switzerland - East-Asian-Pacific International Academic Consortium - Tokyo
BACKGROUND: The caries risk assessment (CRA) is the set of procedures that aim to determine a personalised treatment of the caries pathology in the patient. CRA establishes the probability to develop carious lesions over a certain time period or the likelihood that there will be a change in size or activity of lesions already present [Kriegler et al., 2021]. This "assessment" occurs in two phases: the first phase is to determine specific disease indicators, risk factors, and protective factors each patient has such as the presence of bacterial biofilm, the quantity and quality of saliva, the quality and quantity of the patient's diet, the presence or absence of a correct lifestyle from a hygienic point of view; the use of fluorine and calcium phosphate substances; In the second phase a risk level is assigned to the patient (low, moderate, high, or extreme) in order to allow an individualised treatment plan, which combines restorative treatments with a preventive chemical therapy [Featherstone and Chaffee, 2018; Khallaf et al., 2021]. The aim of this preliminary study is to analyse the correlation of caries with the risk factors related in young patients from 6 to 12 years old, associated to moderate and severe risk levels of caries.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study that included 64 children and adolescents aged from 6 to 12 years, considering the possible and possible samples not acceptable to the study, due to the exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were as follows: all children visiting the pediatric dental clinic who co-operated during the oral examination who have from "moderate" to" high" risk of caries according with CAMBRA [Featherstone et al., 2007].
CONCLUSION: The results showed that patients at extreme risk of tooth decay compared to high-risk patients, not only had all the highest rating rates, but also had more difficulty changing their habits. We can therefore conclude that both the risk of caries is directly proportional to a worsening of the clinical conditions and the delay of the intervention by the clinician is itself a risk factor.
