Importance of Dental Clinic Recalls for Caries Prevention in Children: Practice-Based Research

Abstract

Objective: to investigate the association between caries incidence in children and the number of clinical preventive visits and follow-up period (intervals). Study Design: a 30-year cohort composed of the dental records of 600 children who were 12–23 months old at their first dental appointment and who were followed up to 12 years of age (200 followed since 1981, Group 1; 200 followed since 1991, Group 2; and 200 followed since 2001, Group 3) was analytically and quantitatively evaluated. Random sample calculation was performed with 95% confidence, a maximum error of 2.95% and a ratio of 50%. Results: association was found between caries incidence and the number of dental visits and consultation intervals. Children who attended a smaller number of preventive visits had a higher incidence of the disease. Children who had an interval between returns greater than 12 months had an 18.7-times greater caries risk compared to children who had intervals no longer than 8 months between return visits. Conclusions: preventive consultations with an average interval of up to 8 months seemed to increase family adherence to preventive procedures and acted as a protective factor against caries incidence in children.