Unmasking caries risk: a multi-regional study in Saudi Arabia

bstract
Background Dental caries are common and troublesome and may affect individuals’ health conditions. It is crucial
to comprehend the caries experience for prevention, management, and enhancing oral health. Techniques such as
CAMBRA can help assess an individual’s risk factors for caries lesions. This study aims to assess the caries risk in five
distinct regions of Saudi Arabia, utilizing the CAMBRA methodology.
Methods This multiregional cross-sectional study was conducted at university dental clinics across the five regions
of Saudi Arabia, using a Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) tool. This study used binary logistic
regression analysis, the Pearson Chi-square test, and descriptive analysis as statistical methods.
Results A total of 551 respondents participated in the study, with 59.7% being male and 40.3% being female. The
age group with the highest proportion was 20–29, making up 31.6% of the participants. All participants exhibited
at least one caries lesion (100%), with white spots (66.4%) and enamel lesions (56.1%) being the most prevalent. The
moderate-risk category encompassed the largest proportion of participants, accounting for 60% of the total. High
caries risk had a significant association with age group (P < 0.001), education (P < 0.001), profession (P < 0.001), and
socio-economic status (P < 0.001). Furthermore, only age and socio-economic status showed a significant relationship
with high caries risk in the multiple logistic regression.
Conclusion The CAMBRA tool indicates a high prevalence of moderate risk across the five regions of Saudi Arabia,
identifying age and socio-economic status as significant predictors of caries risk.