Dental School Research Articles

Adhesive restorations in primary dentition: A retrospective analysis of survival rate and associated factors.

Several clinical and individual factors may play a role in the survival rate of dental restorations, such as characteristics related to the child's age and oral hygiene, and factors associated with the tooth, such as the type of material and number of surfaces to be restored. To analyse the survival rate of adhesive restorations on primary teeth and factors associated with restoration survival. The study included dental records of children aged 3-12 years having received adhesive restorations on primary teeth at a Brazilian dental school between 2009 and 2019. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to plot survival rates using the log-rank test. A multivariate Cox regression model was run to identify individual and dental factors associated with restoration failure. The sample comprised 269 restored teeth in 111 children. Survival curves were similar for all materials (p = .20) and types of isolation (p = .05). The annual failure rate was 3.60% for glass ionomer cement, 1.23% for resin-modified glass ionomer cement and 0.40% for composite resin. The following variables were associated with more failures: Class II restoration compared with Class I (HR = 1.96; 95%CI: 1.28-2.99, p < .001), proportion of decayed teeth (HR = 11.89; 95%CI: 2.80-50.57, p < .001) and child's age (HR = 1.17; 95%CI: 1.06-1.29, p < .001). The different materials and types of isolation had similar survival rates. Children with more decayed teeth have an increased risk of restoration failure.

Addressing Patient Concerns at the University of Michigan Dental School

Effective communication between patients and dental providers is crucial for successful dental appointments, fostering trust and comfort. However, patients often carry unspoken concerns into dental clinics that significantly influence their experiences. The dental profession needs a standardized approach to record and address these concerns, leading to inconsistencies in how patient feedback is collected and acted upon. This can result in unresolved issues and patient dissatisfaction. Recognizing this problem, the University of Michigan School of Dentistry thought to improve how patient concerns are documented and addressed.

A multi-national survey-based evaluation of undergraduate/predoctoral endodontic education.

To evaluate the current status of endodontic education and assessment at an undergraduate/predoctoral level in dental schools worldwide. The current survey comprised a 50-item online questionnaire related to undergraduate endodontic education. The project leaders emailed the survey's details to faculty members responsible for endodontic teaching at one dental school in every country to seek their willingness to participate in the survey. After the faculty members accepted, the survey details were sent to participants along with the survey link. Simple descriptive statistics were used to represent the data. Amongst the 44 faculty members from different countries who agreed to participate, 36 completed the survey. Endodontic training starts in 50% of dental schools from the third year of the curriculum. Each dental school employs a diverse range of educational methods. During pre-clinical training, 19.4% of the participating dental schools used only natural teeth. Stainless-steel hand instruments, syringe irrigation with a needle, resin-based sealer and the cold lateral compaction technique are the most frequently used in pre-clinical and clinical training. A significant percentage of dental institutions necessitate that students treat a predetermined quantity of canals or teeth throughout their pre-clinical and clinical education. Dental institutions conduct formative, summative or a combination of the formative and summative throughout the clinical and pre-clinical phases of endodontic training. According to the data collected from this survey, there are considerable variations in the curriculum for undergraduate/predoctoral endodontic programmes amongst the surveyed dental schools. Pre-clinical and clinical education should integrate a larger array of modern tools and procedures.

Cybersecurity threats and preparedness: Implications for dental schools.

Cybersecurity threats are a growing concern in healthcare, where digital systems now underpin patient care, financial management, and educational operations. A cybersecurity breach in a Dental school environment can have widespread consequences to the mission of the school-patient care, research, education and service. For dental school administrators, these risks highlight the necessity of robust cybersecurity measures. For student learners, the impact may include interruptions to their education. For patients, it could mean compromised personal data and reduced access to clinical care. While many sectors have responded to increasing cyber threats by enhancing their defenses, healthcare and dental schools, often lag in implementing necessary protections. This emphasizes the need for proactive measures, such as regular system audits, advanced encryption methods, and ongoing cybersecurity training for administrators and students alike, to mitigate future risks and safeguard institutional integrity.

Recognising and supporting authentic learning in a changing world: the opportunities and threats of AI

Since the term AI (artificial intelligence) was first coined, it has become embedded in modern life, with debate focusing on its challenges. In dentistry, AI is being used in clinical and education practice; however, many educators have limited knowledge or skills in its use. The British Alliance of Researchers in Dental Education and Scholarship hosted an AI-themed conference in November 2023. The conference organisers set out to initiate discussion on the use of AI in UK dental education, including a focused workshop to develop a consensus opinion. Before the conference, potential opportunities and threats associated with AI were determined, and through a pre-conference questionnaire, these were prioritised for in-depth discussion. During the workshop, personalised learning, support for learning, educator resources and equality were all identified as opportunities presented by AI, while digital literacy, misuse and safety were seen as potential threats. Two key overarching concepts emerged at the end of the conference: recognition that AI is here to stay and that dental schools must engage with it now to realise its potential; and recognition that educators do not know enough about how students are using AI and need to collaborate with our students in future development and research.

“You really shouldn’t be here”: using social identity theory to explore under-represented ethnic minority (UREM) students experiences of belonging in a UK dental school

There is tacit acknowledgment that the psycho-social and educational challenges experienced by under-represented ethnic minorities in medical school are likely to be similar to those experienced by ethnic minorities in dental school. However, dental scholarship is not as expansive or comprehensive by comparison to confirm if this is the case. This paper addresses this research gap by presenting the findings of a small-scale exploratory study into the experiences of nine dental undergraduates from a variety of ethnic backgrounds studying at one UK dental school. A social identity theoretical framework was applied to the analysis of semi-structured interview data. The study reveals that dental school is a racialised educational space, where whiteness and white privilege are the norm and students from ethnic minority backgrounds occupy ‘out-group’ status through a process of depersonalisation and stereotyping. Their experiences reveal the existence of a climate of everyday racism perpetuated by students and faculty alike. This research calls on dental schools, and the dental profession more generally to address the lack of inclusivity as a pressing concern requiring immediate action.

A short-term evaluation of oral hygiene education methods in fixed orthodontics patients: a randomized clinical trial comparing assistant training, software, and social media

ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of different oral hygiene education strategies on periodontal health in fixed orthodontic patients in a one-month period: assistant-led instruction, social media-based education, and custom-made software.MethodsSixty orthodontic patients from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences’ Dentistry School were randomly assigned into three groups. Each group received oral health education differently: via assistant instruction, educational videos on social media, or a researcher-designed software for Android smartphones. After a month, participants’ oral health was evaluated using the plaque index (PI) and the gingival index (GI).ResultsAssistant-led education group demonstrated the highest PI (1.26 ± 0.70) and GI (0.92 ± 0.67), while the software group reported the lowest indices (PI = 0.68, GI = 0.46 ± 0.46). The social media group’s measurements fell between these extremes (PI = 0.89 ± 0.75, GI = 0.60 ± 0.52). Significant group differences were found for both PI and GI (P = 0.028 and P = 0.047, respectively). Pairwise comparison revealed significantly lower PI and GI in the software group compared to the assistant group. No significant differences were found between the social media and other groups.ConclusionOur results suggest that the use of specially designed software could be the most effective strategy for improving oral hygiene in orthodontic patients. Meanwhile, traditional assistant-led education showed the least effectiveness. The study supports the potential benefit of utilizing digital tools, such as bespoke software and social media, in oral health education for orthodontic patients.Trial registrationThe study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) database with the identification code IRCT20200609047705N2 in 13.07.2021.

Building bridges - Fostering collaborative education in training dental informaticians.

Dental informatics is an emerging discipline. Although the accreditation agency governing dental education programs asserts the importance of informatics as foundational knowledge, no well-defined dental informatics courses currently exist within the standard predoctoral dental curriculum. There is a nationwide lack of dental informatics academic programs. This training gap is due to a lack of qualified dental informaticians to impart knowledge on dental informatics. This paper aims to introduce a novel conceptual framework for an interdisciplinary dental informatics program in preparing students to become dental informaticians. In 2023, we developed a standalone graduate certificate program in dental informatics at Indiana University (IU) School of Dentistry in collaboration with IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering and IU Fairbanks School of Public Health. Feedback was collected through online surveys to assess course quality from students who took Introduction to Health Information in Dentistry. Feedback was analyzed qualitatively, utilizing a thematic analysis approach. Common responses relevant to dental informatics education were grouped into themes. Five major themes emerged during our analysis of the students' feedback: foundational knowledge and skills; experiential learning: learning by doing; access to resources and working on clinical information systems; health promotion through team-based learning; and retention of knowledge assessment and application. A conceptual framework was formulated through these themes as a guideline for future program improvement. This interdisciplinary educational program framework showed how students and faculty from various disciplines could collaborate, learn from each other, and bring in expertise from different domains. The collaboration happens in clinical, laboratory, and virtual settings to acquire hands on learning through practice and research projects. The developed conceptual framework aligned with the interdisciplinary nature of dental informatics. It can potentially be adopted by other interdisciplinary informatics programs in health and non-health care disciplines.

Evaluation of Ventilation Strategies to Mitigate Airborne Infection Risk in a Dental School: A Three-Dimensional CFD Analysis of Airflow Patterns and Ventilation Efficiency

Infection prevention and control is a crucial element in providing a safe environment for dental clinics and reducing airborne infections risks during dental procedures. In response to the prevailing COVID-19 situations, the clinical space in the dental school was operated with ventilation strategies, increasing air exchanges and incorporating supply and return air arrangement based on seating positions. This study evaluated airflow patterns to examine personal exposure to airborne infection risk under these strategies. The three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics technique using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed in 50 multi-units of the dental school of the university in Bangkok, Thailand. The results revealed substantial improvements in indoor ventilation. Improvement of airflow patterns and directions surpassed conventional design of the pre-existing building’s system and helped reduce airborne contaminant concentrations. The further discussion of occupant-based design in dental schools is needed to optimize ventilation systems and engineering controls concerning indoor airborne infections.

A Comparative Evaluation of New and Used Dental Explorer Working Tips

Abstract The dental explorer medical device assists multiple functions, including marginal assessment. The working tip quality of this instrument has been previously established as a factor affecting operator judgment. However, little data exists to demonstrate the actual quality of working tips in clinical practice. The purpose of this study is to investigate and quantify if any real, measurable differences of the explorer working tip dimension exist among such instruments currently in service and compare to published medical device industry standards. Twenty new #23 dental explorer instruments from two manufacturers served as controls and sixty-three instruments in circulation at a dental school clinic were observed using light microscopy. The instruments were measured 50 micrometers from the terminus. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to analyze values among groups. No statistically significant difference between the mean working tip dimension of new instruments was detected between brands. However, statistically significant differences between new and used instruments were detected regardless of brand. The range of values was 92.5–227.5 micrometers with average used instrument tip estimated over 50% wider than the average new instrument. These findings imply that other studies employing a dental explorer may be confounded if the instrument is not measured. Furthermore, the results of this study should serve as a motivating factor toward future research to update quality standards regarding the medical device with a goal of defining acceptable dimensions of the instrument working tip for certain applications in relation to clinical performance and expected outcomes.

Relationship of incidence of radix entomolaris and C-shaped canal in mandibular molars using CBCT: A multi-centre study.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of incidence between radix entomolaris (RE) in permanent mandibular first molars (FM) with C-shaped canal (CSC) in permanent mandibular second molars (SM). A total of 1015 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of permanent mandibular molars from Malaysian patients were collected retrospectively and analysed by researchers from seven dental schools in Malaysia trained in CBCT technology. The presence and absence of RE and CSC were scored as 'yes' or 'no'. The prevalence of FM with RE was 21.2% and SM with CSC was 37.9%. The co-occurrence of RE and CSC in the same quadrant was 6.5% (OR = 1.497, p = 0.014). Female, Chinese and samples from Eastern Peninsular Malaysia were associated with CSC in SM (p < 0.05). The increased appearance of CSC in SM when RE is present in FM makes it imperative for clinicians to be vigilant during examination and diagnosis to prevent potential endodontic mishaps.

Clinical efficacy of Azadirachta indica based herbal mouthwash in treating the hypersensitivity of teeth

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Azadirachta indica based Herbal mouthwash to treat tooth sensitivity in patients. Method: This single-blinded clinical trial was performed at School of dentistry, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medial University, Islamabad from 1st February, 2023 to 30th April, 2023. In this interventional study incorporated 120 participants with clinically visible signs of erosion, abrasion or recession. Visual Analog Scoring (VAS) Tool was used to investigate tooth sensitivity in these patients. Values of VAS for tooth sensitivity was calculated by exposing teeth of these patients to cold air blasting with triple syringe attached to dental unit at psi-30.0 pressure between 23±30ºC for duration of one second without using Azadirachta indica based Herbal mouthwash. Later on, these patients were provided with this Herbal mouthwash and its usage was recommended twice a day for one month. After One month, tooth sensitivity of patients was determined by VAS again. Data was analyzed by Paired T-test at 95% confidence and significance &lt; 0.05. Results: VAS mean value for tooth sensitivity of patients before using Azadirachta indica based Herbal mouthwash was higher and found to be 55.43% ± 12.04 whereas its mean value after using Herbal mouthwash for one month reduced to 35.38% ± 11.62 which was statistically significant (p value=0.001). Reduction in tooth sensitivity of patients was almost 20.05% just after one month. Conclusion: Azadirachta indica based Herbal mouthwash was potent enough to reduce the tooth sensitivity in patients after one month of its usage. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.10.9826 How to cite this: Mansoor A, Mansoor E, Amir N, Hussain K. Clinical efficacy of Azadirachta indica based herbal mouthwash in treating the hypersensitivity of teeth. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(10):2331-2335. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.10.9826 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Perception of Nigerian Dental Students on the Effectiveness of Teaching Platforms Used for Orthodontics Lectures During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Objective: This research was to assess how Nigerian dental students perceived the effectiveness of the teaching platforms adopted by Orthodontic lecturers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A descriptive survey which involved 10 accredited Nigerian dental schools with clinical students during COVID-19 pandemic across the geo-political zones of Nigeria was carried out. One hundred and forty-five clinical students who had been taught Orthodontics before COVID-19 pandemic were surveyed using a three-Section Google forms semi-structured questionnaire, administered through WhatsApp and emails. Section A comprised socio-demographic variables, B centred on information on teaching platforms adopted for Orthodontics before and during COVID-19 pandemic), and C was about the perceived effectiveness of adopted teaching platform during COVID-19 pandemic. Data obtained were quantitative, analyzed using SPSS version 26. Hypothesis was tested using independent samples t-test at 0.05 significant level. Results: The participants included 83(57.2%) males and 62 (42.8%) females, with mean age of 25.738 +/- 2.94 years. One hundred and forty two (97.2%) affirmed to having more face-to-face teaching before COVID-19 pandemic. The most T popular online teaching platform adopted during COVID-19 pandemic was WhatsApp, 58 (40%). More than half of the participants, 99 (68.3%), had a positive perception towards the adopted teaching platforms. Most of them, 120 (82.7%), perceived the adopted platforms were effective in providing quality Orthodontic lectures, clinical skills and soft skills. More males 83 (57.2%) than females 62 (42.8%), perceived the platforms to be more effective with no statistical difference, while most, 120 (82.7%), accepted the adopted teaching platforms for orthodontics during COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Orthodontic learning occurred largely on-line during COVID-19 pandemic and the perception of the students was positive towards the effectiveness of the adopted teaching platform as most participants accepted the platforms.

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Pre-Malignant Oral Lesions and their Related Factors in an Iranian Population: A Registry-Based Study

Background: Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs) can lead to Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). The sixth most common cancer in the world is OSCC. This study aimed to describe the demographical and clinical characteristics of OPMD patients and their risk factors registered at the Oral Medicine Department of Shahid Beheshti Dental School in 2019-2021. Methods: The observational-analytical study was conducted using the dental records of 96 consecutive patients using a web-based registration software (OPMDs registry). Information including demographics and clinical features, the type of OPMD, and risk factors were extracted. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, T-test, and Fisher’s exact test with SPSS version 21. Results: In this study, 96 patients (average age: 52.41±14.87) including 52 women and 44 men, participated. The most common OPMDs comprised 69 Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) and 15 leukoplakia. The most common location of lesions was the buccal mucosa (74%) with erosions and plaques being the most common morphology types. Most patients with leukoplakia were male, however, majority of the patients with OLP were female (p=0.001). In patients with leukoplakia, 66.5% were smokers; hence, a significant relationship between smoking and OPMD was observed (p=0.001). Patients with OLP commonly presented with burning symptoms, while patients with leukoplakia were mostly asymptomatic (p=0.004). Conclusion: A significant relationship was observed between gender, clinical symptoms, location of lesions, morphology, and type of OPMDs. Most patients with OPMDs were women with OLP in their buccal mucosa, suffering from burning sensation.

William Macpherson Fisher, Sidney Spokes, the School Dentists' Society (1898-1921) and early school dentistry.

Before the nineteenth century, there was little dentistry for anyone, let alone children. By the middle of that century, people such as William Macpherson Fisher and Sidney Spokes began to make a difference. Fisher campaigned for children's dental services. Spokes realised the need for similar-minded dentists to congregate, so formed the School Dentists' Society. Both led to vast improvements in dental care for children and conditions of working for school dentists.

Relationships between women in leadership at predoctoral and senior administration levels in United States dental schools.

To determine the relationship between woman leadership at senior administrative and predoctoral levels in United States (US) dental schools and assess if this relationship is affected by school characteristics. A 23-question survey was created and distributed to each US accredited dental school (2023). Data regarding the gender of the school's dean, senior administrators, and student leaders, as well as school characteristics were gathered. Data were organized in Excel. Descriptive statistics were performed using mean and standard deviation for continuous measures and using count and percent for categorial measures. Statistical comparisons were performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Fisher's Exact, or Chi-squared tests for comparison of proportions. 32 dental schools provided analyzable data for this project (44.4% response rate). The most common senior administrative position held by a woman was the dean of student affairs (71.9%). For every surveyed school with a woman dean (n=11, 34.4%), at least one other senior administrative position was held by a woman. There was no statistical significance between the year of school establishment, geographic region, gender of the dean, or prevalence of women administrators and students in leadership roles. The number of women students in leadership roles was close to the national enrollment trends for gender. Included US dental school data showed no relationship between women in leadership at the senior administrative and predoctoral levels. To keep leadership-minded students interested in dental academics throughout their careers, further studies are needed to identify the most important factors influencing careers in academic dentistry.

Dental education amid armed conflict in Sudan: Unveiling the impact on training.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has severely disrupted the health professions education, notably in dentistry. This study aims to explore the impact of the armed conflict on dental education and training. A mixed-method cross-sectional study encompassed 29 dental schools in Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan States, and Merowe City. Five key informants from the Sudanese Medical Specialization Board, the Human Resource Development Administration, and a university offering clinical dental master's programs were interviewed. Quantitative data on attacks against dental schools were collected through a structured Google form, and qualitative data on postgraduate training were obtained through semi-structured key informant interviews. Findings reveal that 79.3% of dental schools faced military assaults, with 73.9% experiencing looting and 60.9% repurposed as military bases. Notably, 44.8% of schools shifted to online education,3.4% collaborated with other universities, and 27.6% adopted a combined approach. Key informants' interviews unveiled disruptions in specialty training and housemanship, limiting access to crucial training facilities. The primary proposed solution was overseas training. Recurrently emphasized strategies to enhance the resilience of the training system included establishing dental centers in all states, collaborating with external training bodies, and anticipating and preparing for potential disasters. The adverse effects of the conflict on both undergraduate and postgraduate dental education are discernible, manifested through resource limitations, a shortage of dental materials and supplies within training facilities, and direct disruptions to clinical training due to attacks on healthcare institutions. The imperative need for urgent interventions is underscored to alleviate these consequences and safeguard the continuity of educational and training efforts.

Effect Modification by Obesity on Nonsurgical Periodontal Treatment.

Obesity is associated with increased periodontal disease prevalence and incidence. This retrospective cohort study examined whether body mass index (BMI) is an effect modifier of periodontal treatment outcomes in patients attending an urban dental school clinic. Data were extracted from electronic health records of 344 patients at a large urban dental school clinic who had at least 1 tooth with a probing pocket depth (PD) ≥5 mm at baseline and who subsequently received nonsurgical periodontal treatment. BMI was computed from self-reported weight and height and categorized as obese (≥30 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2), or healthy (18-24.9 kg/m2). The primary treatment outcome of interest was defined as having no teeth with PD ≥5 mm in a quadrant on follow-up after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. That outcome was considered to represent treatment success in this study. Secondary outcomes included changes in mean PD and clinical attachment loss (CAL). Analyses included 879 treated quadrants among 344 patients (185 males, 159 females; mean age 49 ± 12 y at baseline; mean posttreatment follow-up of 6 ± 2 mo). Clinical outcomes in patients who were overweight or obese were compared to healthy-weight patients using generalized linear models for binary or continuous outcomes, accounting for clustering within patients. Covariates were age, gender, tobacco use, history of diabetes, insurance type, and number of baseline sites ≥5 mm. Obesity was associated with a significantly lower likelihood of successful nonsurgical treatment (odds ratio = 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.88) than healthy weight. Being overweight was not associated with treatment success. Posttreatment reductions in the percentage of sites with pockets ≥5 mm and CAL ≥5 mm were greater in patients with healthy weight as compared to those either overweight or obese. However, posttreatment changes in mean PD and CAL did not differ among the BMI groups. Obesity adversely modifies the effectiveness of nonsurgical periodontal treatment among dental school clinic patients. The results of this study may be used by dental providers to better understand and manage periodontal therapy in patients with obesity. Furthermore, patients will be better informed about their therapeutic options and outcome success.

Evaluating the Dynamics of Learning Approaches: A Systematic Review Investigating the Nexus Between Teaching Methods and Academic Performance in Medical and Dental Education

AbstractIn recent decades, a noticeable trend has emerged in medical and dental schools to adjust their curricula to promote learning strategies and habits geared towards long-term knowledge retention. This systematic review therefore sought to examine whether different teaching methods influence students’ preferred learning approaches (deep, strategic, and surface approach) and indirectly affect their academic performance. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive overview of the inconsistencies evident in previous literature regarding the relationship between learning approaches and academic performance of medical and dental students. A thorough search across eight databases yielded 49 relevant studies published between the years 2000 and 2023. The majority of studies revealed that whilst deep and strategic learners tend to excel at medical or dental school, surface learners appear to struggle under intense workload and pressure. Hence, a common consensus emerged amongst the existing literature that there is a relative benefit in attempting to guide students towards deep and strategic learning habits and to minimise surface-related learning strategies. However, results also conveyed that merely modifying the teaching methods used in medical and dental schools has limited merit. As such, the results emphasised the lack of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ teaching method. Common factors influencing learning approaches were subsequently identified, and based on these findings, an outlook was put forth to integrate a cognitive neuroscience approach into higher education. These directions for future investigations aim to help students reach their full potential by understanding the processes underlying efficient learning and by being mindful of respective encouraging and discouraging factors.

Dietary questions in caries risk assessment and their relationship to caries.

This retrospective chart review evaluated the relationship between specific dietary questions used in caries risk assessment and planned restorative treatment among patients attending a dental school's clinic. Records for 6,218 adult patients attending the University of Iowa College of Dentistry who completed caries risk assessments and comprehensive oral examinations during 2018-2019 were included. The number of planned caries restorative treatments were compared between groups based on responses to specific dietary questions on the caries risk assessment. Analyses included chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and logistic regression for factors associated with caries treatments. About 20% of subjects needed caries treatment, and regression analyses found that younger age, having unstructured meals, drinking sugared beverages daily, and drinking them for more than 30 min were significantly (p < 0.01) associated with having caries. Specific and focused questions on dietary practices are strongly associated with caries, and may be useful in improving caries risk assessments.