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Objectives: The aim was to examine the caries incidence in adolescents using the Public Dental Service (PDS) during a 5‐year period in relation to their caries experience at baseline and risk classification. Methods: A 5‐year retrospective cohort study based of the dental records from 17 PDS clinics in south‐eastern Sweden was conducted; 159 individuals born in 1997 were included, and their caries risk was classified at 12 and 17 years of age. Caries prevalence and documented risk groups were assessed at baseline and after 5 years. Results: The increment of caries (both initial and manifest caries) was higher, to a statistically significant degree, after 5 years in adolescents who were recorded as caries‐free at baseline compared to individuals with caries at baseline (P <.001). In individuals with caries at baseline, the greatest increment of caries was found at approximal sites (P <.001). At baseline, individuals were classified as low (94%), medium (6%) and high risk (0%). After 5 years, the figures were 74%, 20% and 6%, respectively. Although classified in a low‐caries risk group, 9% had ≥6 decayed or filled surfaces at baseline, and 23% did after 5 years. Approximately 62% of individuals were registered as caries‐free at baseline, and 45% were after 5 years. Conclusions: There was an increase in caries over 5 years, especially among adolescents without caries experience at baseline. The majority of adolescents had the same risk classification after 5 years. Further research with a larger sample size is needed to evaluate risk assessment for caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To validate a risk classification model according to the Public Dental Service (PDS) guidelines with the actual 3-year caries outcome in terms of predictive values. Materials and methods. All 19-year-old patients registered at eight public dental clinics in Skåne, Sweden were invited to participate ( n = 1699). The study group who completed the baseline examination consisted of 1295 subjects, representing 10% of the age group attending the public dental care in the region. A risk classification of each patient in four categories was made by the patient's regular team according to the guidelines. At the follow-up 3 years later, 75.8% were accessible. The final examinations included bitewing radiographs and the actual caries increment for 982 patients was calculated. Results. At baseline, 11.9% were assessed as being at 'high' or 'very high' risk. The dropouts had significantly more caries than the remaining patients ( p < 0.05). The general disease activity was low, but those grouped into the two highest risk groups displayed significantly more new caries than those at lower risk ( p < 0.05). With a cut-off value ΔDFS > 0 vs DFS = 0, the sensitivity was 81% and the specificity 56% for 'low' risk vs any risk. By combining the 'low' and 'some' risk categories, the PDS model generated an improved specificity (94%). Conclusions. The risk assessment scheme used by the Public Dental Service for young adults relied basically on past and current caries activity and 65-70% of the patients were correctly classified. The model was most effective to screen out patients with low caries risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preliminary surveys are used to prioritize between contaminated sites to select those to be investigated more thoroughly. The data-gathering steps are almost identical between countries; however, the assessment procedures differ significantly. In this study, we have investigated 21 contaminated sites assessed as belonging to the high-risk or the very high-risk class using the Swedish Methods for Inventories of Contaminated Sites (MICS). We then applied the US Preliminary Assessment (PA) method to the same sites and compared the results and conclusions from the two screening procedures. In both cases, all sites were recommended for further investigation and the two approaches seem to corroborate one another; however, the PA assessment scores and the preliminary MICS classifications did not correlate. The results obtained with the PA method were easier to explain than the final MICS classification. The PA method also seems more transparent and easier to standardize, although objections could be made regarding the weighting scheme, because the outcome in this study was entirely dependent on the surface exposure pathway. However, to examine this in greater detail, it is necessary to include sites with less contamination: The importance of preliminary surveys in the overall risk management process gives a strong motivation for such an evaluation. Generally, the lack of research and scientific support for the various assessment procedures in use suggests that there is a need for method development, standardization, and validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]