Caries Recurrence After Multiple-Visit Outpatient Dental Treatment and Potential Risk Factors in Young Children in Beijing: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Purpose: This study investigated caries recurrence in young children in China who received multiple-visit outpatient dental treatment, and explored potential risk factors. Methods: A total of 371 one-to four-year-old outpatients with caries were recruited from seven pediatric dentistry clinics in Beijing, China. Oral examinations were performed, and medical and demographic information were recorded at baseline and at three, six, nine, and 12 months. This included the number of decayed teeth (dt), decayed surfaces (ds), demographic data, plaque index, Cariostat^® index, dental behavior, and oral health practices. According to caries recurrence, the children were divided into relapse and non-relapse groups, the data from which were compared to explore the potential risk factors related to caries relapse. Results: During the 12-month follow-up, the plaque index, Cariostat^®index, and behavior score of the children significantly improved compared to the baseline (P<0.05). However, 62.26 percent of the children experienced caries recurrence. No significant differences were found in parents' education level, children's age, sex, oral health practice, plaque index, or behavior score between the relapse and non-relapse groups (P>0.05). The Cariostat^® index at baseline and 12 months, frequency of sugar intake, and dt in the relapse group were significantly higher than for the non-relapse group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Young children's awareness and effectiveness in maintaining oral hygiene significantly improved during multiple visits. However, caries recurrence remained high, indicating that treatment and long-term maintenance of dental caries in this demographic still face considerable challenges. High frequency of sugar intake was an important risk factor for recurrence of caries.