The risk assessment scheme used by the Public Dental Service for young adults relied basically on past and current caries activity and 65-70% of the patients were correctly classified. The model was most effective to screen out patients with low caries risk.

Although the proportion of subjects assessed with high or very high risk was similar using the PDS guidelines and the Cariogram model, the agreement between the models was fair. An acceptable agreement was only disclosed for the low risk category.

The caries risk assessment process was not accompanied by a corresponding targeted individual preventive care in a cohort of young adults attending public dental service. Further research is needed how to reach those with the greatest need of primary and secondary prevention.

No abstract