CAMBRA is an acronym for Ca ries M anagement B y R isk A ssessment – This is a preventative form of dentistry in which patients are categorized by their relative risk for developing dental caries, based on risk factors including diet, oral hygiene, fluoride regiment and past oral health history.
According to the CDC, dental caries (cavities) is an epidemic in the United States. Though it’s largely preventable, dental caries remains the most common chronic disease of children aged 5-17 years—4 times more common than asthma (42% versus 9.5%). In the United States, while children are largely affected by this disease, cavities do not discriminate against age. Adults are at risk as well.
- 28% of children aged 2-5 have already had cavities in their baby teeth
- 50% of children have had a cavity by the age of 11
- 68% (2/3rds) of 19-year-olds have had cavities in their permanent teeth
- 16% of children aged 6-19 years have untreated cavities
- 23% of adults aged 20-64 have untreated cavities
- 85% of all adults will have cavities in their lifetime
- More than 60% of adults will lose a permanent tooth to cavities
As a dental professional, these statistics don’t surprise me. They’re disappointing and upsetting, but not unbelievable. I see it first-hand every day. New patients and return patients, children and adults, good hygiene and poor hygiene – cavities may be present in each one.
Possibly the most frustrating scenario arises when I have a patient that has impeccable hygiene with no signs of gum disease, brushes 2-3 times per day and flosses daily, returns every 6 months for a professional cleaning, and I have to tell them they have new cavities. It’s heartbreaking, for both of us. How can a patient that does everything right still get cavities?
At Dental BLU, we pride ourselves on teaching excellent hygiene practices. We have conversations with all of our patients about proper hygiene techniques at each professional cleaning, as well as prescribe hygiene adjuncts that can address specific needs. And while we treat cavities daily, it is just as important to us to educate you on your individual cavity risk, and provide you with access to science-based resources and products to prevent cavities.
Sometimes, just knowing your level of risk is enough to help you avoid the risk. This is certainly a possibility with cavities. Knowing that you have a high risk of cavities can help you make better decisions about your oral care. Luckily, our understanding of what causes cavities and what risk factors seem to matter most in cavity formation has grown, giving us more and better information about avoiding cavities.
At Dental BLU, we can help you properly measure your risk of cavities and develop a preventive plan, but there are some simple questions you can answer at home to raise your cavity risk awareness.
So, are you at high risk for cavities?
Have you recently had a cavity filled?
Do you suffer from dry mouth?
Do you snack frequently or drink non-water beverages throughout the day?
Do you have white spots on your teeth?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you are likely at high risk for cavities. It’s time to schedule an appointment with the doctors or hygienists at Dental BLU for your personal risk assessment and to obtain your individual risk of cavities. We can help you not just repair your cavities, but we can now provide you with access to CariFree products that are only available through us, your dental professionals.
CariFree elevated-pH products are created from science-based research to prevent cavities at their source and eliminate the disease process so cavities are never able to form. Make your appointment at Dental BLU today to determine your individual risk for developing cavities and ask us how CariFree products can help you.