Is patient's caries activity associated with caries increment among adolescents, regardless of caries experience?

This 2.5-year cohort study investigated whether patient's caries activity is independently associated with caries increment among adolescents, regardless of previous caries experience, in a sample of 801 adolescents from South Brazil. Caries examination was performed at baseline (12y) and at follow-up (14-15y). Caries activity was significantly associated with caries increment even after adjustment for sex, socioeconomic status, type of school, and previous caries experience at both cavity and non-cavitated levels. Caries-active adolescents had approximately 2-fold higher risk of caries increment than those without caries activity (cavity level, IRR=1.90, 95%CI=1.45-2.49, p<0.001; non-cavitated level, IRR=2.16, 95%CI=1.63-2.86, p<0.001).