Is Patient’s Caries Activity Associated with Caries Increment among Adolescents, Regardless of Caries Experience?

Abstract

This 2.5-year cohort study investigated whether patient’s caries activity is independently associated with caries increment among adolescents, regardless of previous caries experience, in a sample of 801 adolescents from South Brazil. Caries examination was performed at baseline (12 y) and at follow-up (14–15 y). Caries activity was significantly associated with caries increment even after adjustment for sex, socioeconomic status, type of school, and previous caries experience at both cavity and non-cavitated levels. Caries-active adolescents had approximately 2-fold higher risk of caries increment than those without caries activity (cavity level, incidence risk ratio [IRR] = 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.45–2.49, p < 0.001; non-cavitated level, IRR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.63–2.86, p < 0.001).