ABSTRACT

Assessment of caries risk is a factor that must be considered before dentists make a clinical decision. Indicators used in the assessment of caries risk may be used in combination with other diagnostic procedures in clinical determination of caries and detection of cases who need dental caries control measures, treatment planning and caries preventing treatments such as fluoride therapy. The aim of our study was to assess the caries risk and determine the cases who need preventive dental treatments such as fluoride therapy according to the risk of dental caries in children admitted to the Pediatric Dentistry Department of Gulhane Military Medical Academy with ages between 4 to 15 years. With this aim intraoral examination was performed on a total of 177, 82 (46.3%) female and 95 (53.7%) male, patients (medium age 9.18±2.817 years), and data were recorded on the caries risk assessment form. On evaluation of the results, 18 (10.2%), 46 (26%) and 113 (63.8%) of 177 patients were found in low, moderate and high risk groups, respectively. The high number of patients in high-risk group would provide guidance to physicians in informing patients and their families admitted to the Pediatric Dentistry Department of Gulhane Military Medical Academy about preventive and oral dental health care.

Keywords: Dental caries, fluorid, preventive dentistry