How did CariesCare International perform under pandemic conditions in children? A one-year, multicentre, single-group, interventional study

Introduction CariesCare International (CCI) is a practice-friendly, health outcomes-focused, patient-centred, risk-based approach to caries management designed for the practice. The unfeasibility of a randomised clinical trial and of aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic to test the caries control effectiveness of CCI shifted it to a non-AGP, reduced on-site consultation, single-interventional study.Aim This 12-month, multicentre, single-group, interventional study aimed at primarily assessing the control of caries progression of a pandemic CCI-adapted protocol in children.Methods In total, 17 centres (n≥ 20, 3-8-year-old children/centre) were included. Trained examiners assessed (baseline: T0; one-year follow-up: T1y): CCI caries risk; oral health-related behaviours; decayed, missing and filled teeth (primary, permanent) with the epidemiological merged International Caries Detection and Assessment System (severity, activity); dental sepsis; and toothache. Trained practitioners performed one-year CCI-adapted personalised care. Dental care process acceptance was assessed in parents and dentists.Results A total of 16 centres finished the study (n = 337, 78.6%; mean age: 5.5 ± 1.6 years). There was a T0-T1y decrease in the mean number of combined primary and permanent tooth surfaces with caries lesions (8.4 ± 9.7 to 6.2 ± 7.6), with most children showing control of caries progression (75.1%), high caries risk (86.6%) and non-adequate oral-health behaviour (72.7%) (p <0.05). CCI acceptance was very high in parents and high/very high in dentists.Discussion The limitations given by the pandemic challenges, the single-interventional study design, and the non-AGP and reduced in-office-consultation adaptations, might as well highlight the shown caries progression control, feasibility and acceptance of CCI.Conclusion The one-year implementation of CCI showed control of caries progression and of risk and high acceptance among parents and dentists.

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Journal
BDJ
Published
2025-08-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-025-8640-4
Primary Topic
Dental Research and COVID-19
Type
article
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article

How did CariesCare International perform under pandemic conditions in children? A one-year, multicentre, single-group, interventional study

Gail Douglas, Diana Zelada, Aldo Squassi, Nigel Pitts et al.
BDJ
Dental Research and COVID-19
article

How did CariesCare International perform under pandemic conditions in children? A one-year, multicentre, single-group, interventional study

Gail Douglas, Diana Zelada, Aldo Squassi, Nigel Pitts, Andréa Ferreira Zandoná, Jesús R. Osorio, Rita Villena, Mariana Minatel Braga, Ana Sorazabal, Edgar O. Beltrán, E. Angeles Martínez‐Mier, Laura Hermida Bruno, Ángela Sarrazola, Natalia Fortich Mesa, Michèle Muller‐Bolla, Andrea Cortés, Olga Lucía Cifuentes, Ninoska Abreu‐Placeres, Chris Deery, Elody Aïem, Ketty Ramos, Irina Kuzmina, Johanna Sanjuán, José Ignacio Llamas, Stefanía Martignon, Juan Sebastián Lara, Beatriz Echeverri, María P. Cerezo, Cristina Areias, Nathaly Chavarría, Paulo Melo, Tim Newton, Fabiana Carletto-Körber, Angie Sanabria, Magdalena San‐Martín, Laura Marcela Carreño, Adriana Conrado, Jennifer A. Oña, Daria Said, Paula Yunes-Fragoso, Alejandra Rubi Tello, Sandra Caceres‐Matta, Ana Clara Falabello de Luca
article en

Abstract

Introduction CariesCare International (CCI) is a practice-friendly, health outcomes-focused, patient-centred, risk-based approach to caries management designed for the practice. The unfeasibility of a randomised clinical trial and of aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic to test the caries control effectiveness of CCI shifted it to a non-AGP, reduced on-site consultation, single-interventional study.Aim This 12-month, multicentre, single-group, interventional study aimed at primarily assessing the control of caries progression of a pandemic CCI-adapted protocol in children.Methods In total, 17 centres (n≥ 20, 3-8-year-old children/centre) were included. Trained examiners assessed (baseline: T0; one-year follow-up: T1y): CCI caries risk; oral health-related behaviours; decayed, missing and filled teeth (primary, permanent) with the epidemiological merged International Caries Detection and Assessment System (severity, activity); dental sepsis; and toothache. Trained practitioners performed one-year CCI-adapted personalised care. Dental care process acceptance was assessed in parents and dentists.Results A total of 16 centres finished the study (n = 337, 78.6%; mean age: 5.5 ± 1.6 years). There was a T0-T1y decrease in the mean number of combined primary and permanent tooth surfaces with caries lesions (8.4 ± 9.7 to 6.2 ± 7.6), with most children showing control of caries progression (75.1%), high caries risk (86.6%) and non-adequate oral-health behaviour (72.7%) (p <0.05). CCI acceptance was very high in parents and high/very high in dentists.Discussion The limitations given by the pandemic challenges, the single-interventional study design, and the non-AGP and reduced in-office-consultation adaptations, might as well highlight the shown caries progression control, feasibility and acceptance of CCI.Conclusion The one-year implementation of CCI showed control of caries progression and of risk and high acceptance among parents and dentists.

BDJ
Tufts University (US), Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry (RU), University of Cartagena (CO), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (AR), Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Universidade do Porto (PT), King's College London (GB), Universidad El Bosque (CO), Universidad de San Martín de Porres (PE), Universidad de Buenos Aires (AR), Universidad Iberoamericana (DO), Universidad Autonoma de Manizales (CO), Universidad Católica del Uruguay (UY), Corporación Universitaria Rafael Nuñez (CO), Institución Universitaria Colegios de Colombia (CO), Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia (CO), Leeds Dental Hospital (GB), The Ohio State University (US), Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (US), University of Sheffield (GB)
International Association for Dental Research, University of Bern, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Universidad El Bosque, King's College London
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 65%
Dental Research and COVID-19
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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