Since dental caries is of complex and multi-factorial nature the researchers have tried to determine the susceptibility of individuals to the disease through investigating the effect of each risk factor independently and to predict the future disease based on these investigations. Caries Risk Assessment (CRA) is an approach to identify high risk individuals and to implement icafactors for dental caries in 7-year-old children, and to identify high risk children. data was collected from 218 7-year-old pupils from four schools in the city of Tehran via three methods: questionnaire, bitewing radiographs, and dental examination. We implemented the method used by Saint Antonio Texas dental school to predict susceptibility of each individual to dental caries through valuing risk factors of dental caries in each individual. Of the 218 pupils, 63 (28.9%) were identified as low risk, 121 (55.5%) as moderate risk, and 34 (15.6%) as high risk for development of dental caries. The frequency of dental visits was more among high risk group compared to that among low risk group (P=0.012). Association of other factors such as socio-economic status, number of children in the family, the frequency of brushing, and eating sugary snacks with the risk of dental caries remained insignificant. It can be concluded that more emphasis should be placed on oral health promotion programs, especially among pre-schoolchildren.

Keywords: Dental caries, Risk factor, Caries risk assessment, Prevention 

Dr. Seyed Jalal Pourhashemi is a distinguished academic and researcher from Tehran, Iran, affiliated with the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. With extensive expertise in dentistry and oral health, he has contributed to advancing research, clinical practices, and academic training in the field. His dedication to education and innovation has earned him recognition within both national and international dental communities. Dr. Pourhashemi actively engages in knowledge exchange and scientific collaborations, and he is particularly interested in delivering Keynote Presentations to share his insights and research with global audiences.