Effectiveness of Two Distinct Recalls Intervals on Caries Incidence in Preschool Children with Low Caries Risk: Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness between two different recalls intervals on dental caries incidence in preschool children with low caries risk.

Methods: The sample consisted in 224 children from public schools in Sao Paulo city, from 3 to 5 years old, with low caries risk. The children were randomised into two groups according to two recall intervals: Group 1 (G1) - 12 months recall interval, oral health and diet orientation and clinical examination. Group 2 (G2) - 18 months recall interval, oral health and diet orientation and clinical examination. The examiner was calibrated and blinded to the studies groups. The oral examinations consisted in detection of caries lesions and their activity according to the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). An external dentist performed dental hygiene and diet orientations. The chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were used to assess the difference in the proportion of children and mean of teeth with new caries lesions between G1 and G2, respectively. Poisson Regression analyses were performed to evaluate dental caries incidence considering two cutoff points during the returns: 1) incidence of active non-cavitated caries lesions; 2) incidence of cavitated lesions in dentin.

Results: A statistically significant difference was observed only for incidence of initial active caries lesions between the groups (p=0.012). Children of G2 had a higher risk of developing active lesions (RR=2.37; p=0.047 and RR=3.14; p<0.001, respectively)compared to the G1. Children with higher number of initial active lesions in the recalls had a higher risk of developing dentin caries lesions (RR=1.62; p=0.001).

Conclusions: The 12-months recall interval is more effective on non-cavitated caries incidence which is a predictive factor for the progression of cavitated carious lesions in dentin.