Cariogram

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cariogram is a way to illustrate interactions between caries related factors. It demonstrates the caries risk graphically and shows the risk for developing new caries in the future and also chances to avoid new caries in the near future. It helps to understand the multifactorial aspects of dental caries. It can be used as a guide in attempts to estimate caries risk. While useful, a cariogram cannot replace the personal and professional judgement of caries risk made by the examiner.

History[]

Over the past few decades, Swedish researchers have been developing and applying new concepts for caries risk assessment. The pioneering work of and his team at the Dental School in Göteborg laid the foundation for the development of a comprehensive model of the caries risk profile. Building on this work, Douglas Bratthall and coworkers at the Dental School in Malmö have attempted to make the practical application of risk assessment more accessible by developing a computer-based caries risk assessment model.

According to Douglas Bratthall and coworkers 1997: "Relevant information regarding the patient is collected, scored according to a standardized protocol and then entered into a computerized program called Cariogram."[citation needed] He described Cariogram in his Cariogram Manual published in 1997 by Förlagshuset Gothia, Stockholm.

Aims[]

  • Illustrates the interaction of caries related factors.
  • Illustrates the chance to avoid caries.
  • Expresses caries risk graphically.
  • Recommends targeted preventive actions.
  • Can be used in the Dental clinic.
  • Can be used as an educational programme.

The Cariogram is a graphical picture illustrating in an interactive way the patient's risk for developing new dental caries in the future.

The cariogram evaluates a large set of data - based on both science and art! In a way it can be compared to the weather forecast.

The Dark blue sector ‘Diet’ - Based on a combination of diet contents and diet frequency. The Red sector ‘Bacteria’ - Based on a combination of amount of plaque and mutans streptococci. The Light blue sector ‘Susceptibility’- Based on a combination of fluoride program, saliva secretion and capacity. The Yellow sector ‘Circumstances’ - Based on a combination of past caries experience and related diseases. The Green sector shows an estimation of the ‘Actual chance to avoid new cavities’. (‘what is left’ when the other factors have taken their share!)

Applications[]

  • Illustrates the interaction of caries related factors.
  • Illustrates the chance to avoid caries.
  • Expresses caries risk graphically.
  • Recommends targeted preventive actions.
  • Can be used in the clinic & as an educational programme.

References[]

  • Petersson, GH (2003). "Assessing caries risk--using the Cariogram model". Swed Dent J Suppl (158): 1–65. PMID 12856497.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""