Predictors of Caries Risk among Egyptian Children Attending Pediatric Dental Clinics at a University Hospital.

Background: Dental caries is the most prevalent dental disease. The external validity of the available caries risk assessment (CRA) tools is not established, especially among pediatric population.

Objectives: To assess caries risk using the caries management by risk assessment (CAMBRA) protocol among Egyptian children aged 3-12 years and suggest variables that could potentially be used to develop a simpler CRA model.

Materials and methods: For this cross-sectional study, we recruited 320 children aged 3 to <6 years (Group I) and 320 children aged 6-12 years (Group II). CAMBRA was used to collect data about disease indicators, biological and environmental factors, and protective factors among study participants. Each child was examined clinically to collect data about past caries experiences and to measure plaque scores.

Results: The risk of caries was high in 92.5% of Group I and 83.4% of Group II participants. The overall dmft was 5.71 ± 3.18 for Group I and 4.78 ± 2.53 for Group II. In Group I, a significant positive relation was found between the overall mean caries risk score and past caries experience (dmft; r = 0.344, P < 0.001) and mean plaque index (r = 0.463, P < 0.001). In Group II, a significant positive relation was found between the overall mean caries risk score and dmft score (r = 0.511, P < 0.001), S. mutans count (r = 234, P < 0.001), Lactobacilli count (r = 0.316, P < 0.001), and plaque index (r = 0.463, P < 0.001). Participants' age, parents' education, and parents' occupation had a negative significant effect on the overall mean caries risk score.

Conclusion: This study suggests predictors that can be used in the development of a new CRA model for children aged 3-12 years.