Improvement of Early Prediction of Dental Caries in School-Aged Children: A Narrative Review of Biomarkers and Risk Assessment Tools

Abstract

Dental caries is established as a leading chronic disease in pediatric populations globally, with substantial implications for oral health outcomes, health-related quality of life, and healthcare expenditure. Conventional approaches to caries risk assessment in pediatric dentistry have been relied upon primarily for clinical examination and radiographic findings; however, these methodologies have been demonstrated to possess limited predictive accuracy for identifying high-risk individuals prior to disease manifestation. Recent advances in molecular biology, microbiological diagnostics, and imaging technologies have been achieved, substantially expanding the arsenal of biomarkers available for early caries prediction. This narrative review has been conducted to synthesize current evidence regarding biomarkers and advanced risk assessment tools that enhance early detection and prediction of dental caries in school-aged children.