Clinical-laboratory parameters of subclinical curing of the caries in the childhood age

Abstract

Knowing the age-related clinico-laboratory changes in the patient's oral cavity at the preclinical stage of the disease development will enable clinicians to diagnose the development of the carious process long before the clinical manifestations with the purpose of prescribing preventive treatment and, thereby, will reduce the incidence of tooth decay in childhood. Purpose of the study: to determine the clinical and laboratory parameters of the subclinical manifestation of the carious process in childhood. According to WHO recommendations, 1158 children were examined to achieve the goal, and 3 age-matched clinically uniform groups were formed, consisting of caries-resistant children 5-6, 12 and 15 years old. As a result of dynamic observation and cluster analysis, a set of the most informative clinical and laboratory indicators of the state of organs and tissues of the oral cavity reflecting resistance and predisposition to caries in children of different age groups was established. To objectively determine the parameters of the subclinical flow of the carious process in children, we imposed the results of cluster analysis on the results of clinical observation in each age group. As a result, two artificially synthesized clusters were formed in each age group: a cluster of caries-resistant individuals and a cluster of caries affected individuals. The parameters that formed the center of the cluster of caries and are clinico-laboratory parameters of the subclinical form of the carious process in childhood. Using a comprehensive approach to examining patients at a dental appointment, clinicians will be able to diagnose the development of the carious process at the preclinical stage of its manifestation long before the clinical manifestations of caries, which will help prevent and reduce the incidence of tooth decay in children.