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J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 134, No 9, 1195-1202. © 2003 American Dental Association

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Background. Risk-based prevention is a means of ensuring that patients receive preventive treatment appropriate for their risk of disease. While straightforward, its application in private practice has not been examined.

Methods. Volunteer clinicians in 15 offices participated in a six-month pilot study to test methods for a larger, risk-based prevention demonstration study operated by a dental insurer. Concomitant with oral examinations for patients of this insurer, clinicians identified patients at elevated risk of developing dental caries and periodontitis. For these patients, the reasons for elevated risk (risk indicators), as well as planned preventive treatment in response to that risk, were recorded and transmitted to the insurer via the claim form.

Results. The clinicians identified relatively small percentages of patients as being at high risk of developing caries (4 percent) and periodontitis (7 percent), with little variation across the 15 offices. Larger proportions of patients were identified as being at moderate risk of developing caries (29 percent) and periodontitis (30 percent), with more extensive variation across offices. In general, patients classified as being at elevated risk had received more disease-related treatment than patients at low risk before the classification, which provided some validation for the accuracy of risk assessment.

Conclusions. The results of this pilot study suggest that formal, risk-based prevention can be accomplished in dental offices. Clinicians’ reported risk assignments and indicators, together with their planned preventive treatments, demonstrate a good understanding of risk-based prevention.

Clinical Implications. Researchers may need to clarify the criteria used to assess moderate risk of developing dental caries, and clinicians may need to emphasize greater use of fluorides and more frequent recall visits for adults at elevated risk of developing dental caries.

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