title: Retrospective assessment of caries experience among US Naval Academy midshipmen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the 4-year caries incidence among US Naval Academy midshipmen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dental records (n = 300) from a total population of 1,016 midshipmen from the 2011 graduating class at US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, were randomly selected for review. Patients were assigned a caries risk status based on the number of caries lesions recorded at initial examination (low = 0 lesions; moderate = 1-2 lesions; high = 3+ lesions). For each risk category, caries prevalence (DMFS, DMFT) and caries incidence were calculated based on findings recorded at the initial (E1), third year (E2), and fourth year (E3) examinations. The most significant predictors for caries incidence were determined for each risk category.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean DMFS and DMFT were significantly different for each risk group at each examination (low < moderate < high; one-way ANOVA, P < 0.05). Within each caries risk category, mean DMFS and DMFT increased significantly from E1 to E3 (repeated measures ANOVA, all P < 0.05). Compared with low-risk patients, total caries incidence was over 2× greater for moderate-risk and nearly 4× greater for high-risk patients (one-way ANOVA, P < 0.05). "Filled surfaces" was the most significant predictor for caries incidence among low-risk patients; among high-risk and all risk groups combined, the most significant predictors were "decayed surfaces" and "decayed surfaces plus incipient surfaces" (linear regression; all P < 0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caries experience was consistently greater for moderate- and high-risk patients at all examinations. The magnitude of increase in caries experience was greater for moderate- and high-risk patients. Caries history and current disease status reliably predict future caries experience in this young adult population.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Dentistry, Naval Postgraduate Dental School, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Stratmeyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Operative Dentistry, & Dental Public Health, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Kim E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Diefenderfer
authors.affiliation: Tri-Service Center for Oral Health Studies, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Leiendecker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adults; caries risk; dental caries; epidemiology; incidence; prevalence