Description

Dental caries is a dynamic and multifactorial process. Occurrence of dental caries is affected by several factors including quantity and composition of saliva, oral microflora and patient-related parameters including general health and lifestyle, such as the use of fluoride-containing toothpastes and diet.

Caries risk is defined as the probability of developing caries in the future. The incidence of the disease can be either primary (New caries lesions) or secondary (Progression of lesion or reactivation of caries lesions). Caries risk assessment (CRA) is important for the successful application of a minimum intervention dentistry philosophy in the management of dental caries. Patients, with active caries at the time of visit, need the CRA to identify the factors that are most likely to progress in the disease process. The CRA is one of the methods for managing the caries of patients.

Riley et al. showed that the anti-caries agents were widely used in dental clinics, while the CRA was performed by a few dental clinics. In a study of Gaskin et al., 63.5% of subjects agreed with the use of minimal intervention dentistry. In a study of Shah et al., 36% of dentists accepted the use of restorative materials and CRA-based methods, and 15.5% also strongly agreed with CRA for all patients. In a study by Rayapudi and Usha, 81% of participants agreed with CRA in patients. In a study by Riley et al. about the use of CRA by dentists in children, 73% of dentists reported having CRAs for people aged 6 to 18 years. In another study by Riley et al., 69% of dentists performed CRA for patients, and 57% of dentists who performed CRA had considered an individualized caries prevention programs for their patients. Hurlbutt et al. showed that caries management by the CRA is an example of patient care that has the best practice rather than traditional therapies.

Afshar et al. claimed that the CRA is a conservative approach that can prevent waste of time, energy and finances. Evaluating the management of the results of illness in certain periods of time leads to less dental tissues wasting. People's knowledge of CRA in patients leads to more conservative treatment. Due to limited studies in this field and the absence of data about using CRA in Egypt, Especially on dental residents, this study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Caries Risk Assessment among pediatric and Conservative Dental Residents in Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University.