title: Caries risk profiles in Sardinian schoolchildren using Cariogram.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to assess the caries risk profile in a group of Sardinian schoolchildren and to compare the outcome with their history of caries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the computer-based program "Cariogram", 957 subjects aged 7, 8, and 9 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The children were examined to evaluate dmfs/DMFS and gingival conditions. Data on dietary and oral hygiene habits were collected and saliva was analyzed, including levels of mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacilli (Lb). Based on the Cariogram profiles, the children were divided into five risk groups in accordance with "chance of avoiding caries".
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost 50% of the children had a low caries risk, while more than a quarter had less than 40% "chance of avoiding caries". A significant linear trend between the five Cariogram categories and dmfs/DMFS was observed in the three age groups (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Cariogram risk profile showed strong correlations to the caries experience of Sardinian schoolchildren and that efforts to reduce caries risk are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Dental Institute, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. gcampus@uniss.it
authors.forename: Guglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campus
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cagetti
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strohmenger
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lingström
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003732:Dental Caries Activity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification