Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Policy on Use of a Caries-risk Assessment Tool (CAT) for Infants, Children, and Adolescents

Author(s): Reference Manual
Journal: Pediatric Dentistry
Volume (number): 29 (7)
Month, Year: 2008
Major topic: caries risk assessment
Minor topic(s): none
Type of Article: policy statement
Main Purpose: assessment of caries risk in modern-day pediatric dentistry
Overview of method of research: literature review
Findings: Based on the literature, previous caries experience is the best predictor of future caries in primary teeth. The earlier in infancy children are inoculated with s. mutans, the more severe the caries in primary dentition.
Key points/Summary: caries risk assessment is determination of the likelihood of the incidence of caries during a certain time period. Caries risk indicators are variables that either directly cause the disease or are predictors of disease potential. A successful caries risk assessment tool will incorporate one ore more social, behavioral, mirobiologic, environmental, and clinical variables. The benefits of a CAT include: a concise assessment tool for dental and non-dental healthcare practitioners, providing evidence for periodicity of services for third-party payers.
Assessment of article: A classic article

No comments:

Post a Comment