Dental Caries Risk Assessment Quiz

Dental Caries Risk Assessment

• Caries risk assessment is a systematic process for evaluating potential risks to assess a patient's future risk of oral disease.
• It should be done ideally before disease occurs.
• It's important to consider risk and protective factors.
• Oral health assessment and review (OHAR) is done within routine primary dental care.
• It involves a comprehensive assessment of a patient's social history, dental history, medical histories and oral health status.
• This assessment leads to diagnosis, risk assessment, personalized care planning, and ongoing review.
• The information includes factors that influence caries development.
• Assessing caries risk is important for patient care planning, effective treatment and prevention.

GDC Learning Outcomes

• Recognize the importance of, and record a comprehensive and contemporaneous patient history.
• Recognize the significance of changes in a patient's reported oral health status and take appropriate action.
• Discuss the role of the dental therapist and other members of the dental team in the treatment plan.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Define oral health assessment.
• Explain risk assessment.
• List factors to consider in an oral health assessment.
• Describe how risk assessment results inform future care.
• Describe documentation importance.

Risk Factors and Protective Factors

• Protective factors include good oral hygiene, fluoride use, and routine attendance.
• Risk factors include, for example, poor oral hygiene, smoking, and a history of diabetes.
• Risk factors and protective factors play a significant role in a patient's risk profile.

Structured Approaches to Caries Risk Assessment

• American Dental Association CRA tools (CRA), tool <6 and tool >6.
• Caries management by risk assessment (CAMBRA), CRA tool (parts 1 and 2).
• American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (AAPD) CRA tool.
• Dundee CRA tool.
• Cariogram (available on app stores).

Unstructured Approaches to Caries Risk Assessment

• Unstructured questions and evaluation around medical history, social history, oral hygiene, diet history, dental history, and examination.

Caries Risk Assessment Tools and Effectiveness

• Evidence on existing caries risk assessment systems' validity is limited.
• Identification of high-risk individuals may not always lead to long-term effective management.
• Assessing caries risk is still important.

Factors to Assess if Not Using a Tool

• Medical history (diabetes, medication use, reduced saliva)
• Diet history (timing, frequency, sugary foods)
• Social history (family history of caries in children)
• Oral hygiene (fluoride use, brushing frequency, quality of hygiene)
• Dental history (previous caries experience, restorations)

How Caries Risk Assessment Information Will be Used

• This information will direct preventative measures, treatment, and complex treatment options for the patient.
• Different risk categories (low, moderate, high) will affect the level and frequency of intervention.
• A risk-based interval dictates how often the patient should be reviewed to assess ongoing treatment and prevention.

Supporting Materials/Tools for Caries Risk Assessment

• Examples of caries management pathways for different age groups (0-5 years old and ≥6 years old) and their associated risk management and restorative interventions are included.

Patient Example Question

• Which patient has a higher risk of caries?
• Examples of different patient scenarios (young, old) and their oral care (including risk factors and protective factors) are shown.
• Questions and examples regarding patient management are presented.

Summary

• Risk assessment requires a systematic approach as patient risk can change over time.
• Assessing every aspect of the patient’s oral condition, together, is crucial.
• This assessment method enables better care planning.
• Several tools to assist this process are available.