Comparison of two clinical approaches based on visual criteria for secondary caries assessments and treatment decisions in permanent posterior teeth

Table 7 Comparison between explanatory variables and the presence of caries (outcome) assessment by FDI and CARS criteria

Explanatory variables	Unadjusted PR (95%CI)	p	Adjusted PR (95%CI)	p
Variables related to the patient (3rd level)
Sex (ref.: male)			*
Female	0.98 (0.70–1.34)	0.843
Age (ref.: up to 30 yrs-old)
More than 30 yrs-old	0.74 (0.52–1.06)	0.098	0.83 (0.54–1.28)	0.403
DMF-T (quant. variable)	0.97 (0.95–1.00)	0.034	0.97 (0.95–1.00)	0.054
Caries activity (ref.: no)			*
Yes	1.11 (0.79–1.57)	0.544
Variables related to the restored tooth (2nd level)
Type of teeth (ref.: Molars)			*
Premolars	1.18 (0.85–1.63)	0.325
Dental arch (ref.: upper)			*
Lower	1.11 (0.82–1.51)	0.488
Number of surfaces restored (ref.: 1 surface)
2 surfaces	1.03 (0.72–1.47)	0.860	1.13 (0.78–1.62)	0.523
3 or more surfaces	1.65 (1.12–2.43)	0.011	1.89 (1.25–2.85)	0.002
Dental material (ref.: amalgam)
Composite resin	1.02 (0.76–1.40)	0.857	0.81 (0.57–1.13)	0.215
Variables related to the clinical evaluation (1st level)
Diagnostic method (ref.: CARS)
FDI system	2.72 (1.93–3.83)	< 0.001	2.71 (1.93–3.81)	0.001
Order of examinations (ref.: 1st examination)
2nd examination	1.14 (0.85–1.55)	0.383	1.12 (0.83–1.51)	0.474

PR = prevalence ratio; 95%CI = 95% confidence intervals; DMF-T = decayed, missed and filled permanent teeth
*Variables not included in the final model

ISSN: 1472-6831