Dental Care for Infants
Caries Risk Assessment

Caries risk assessment is defined as the identification of factors associated with a condition or disease for purposes of further diagnosis, prevention or treatment. If those risk factors are eliminated before the diseases occur, the disease process can be prevented.

Risk factors that can be evaluated include:

• Presence of caries
• Presence of plaque
• Gingival condition
• Caries history
• Fluoride exposure
• Carbohydrate exposure – frequency, amount
• Socioeconomic status
• Dental care exposure
• Caregiver dental literacy

The American Dental Association (ADA) developed a caries risk assessment form for children 0-6 that evaluates three areas and includes:

1. Contributing Conditions
2. General Health Conditions
3. Clinical Conditions

All of them are evaluated in the following three categories: High, Moderate or Low risk.