OXIS Contacts and Approximal Caries in 3-6-year-old Children: A Prospective Cohort Study.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the distribution of OXIS contact areas [open (O), point (X), straight (I), and curved (S)] of primary molars and their individual susceptibility to proximal caries in 3-6-year-old children.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 192 caries-free children, aged 3-6 years, from H.P. Government Dental College and Hospital, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. Two calibrated dentists assessed 768 selected contacts using OXIS criteria from an occlusal view, followed by a minimum 1-year follow-up evaluation for the presence of approximal caries. Spearman's correlation test was used to determine the association between contact types and approximal caries.

RESULTS

Out of 529 contacts that were successfully followed up at 1 year, 145 (27.41%) contacts were found to be carious. Spearman's correlation test revealed a significant association between contact type and approximal caries (p < 0.05). The odds ratios of OXIS contacts for the development of approximal caries were: S contact-2.297, I contact-1.119, X contact-0.970, and O contact-1.00 (reference).

CONCLUSION

Compelling evidence underscores the importance of tooth contact variations in approximal caries development, with the S-type contact emerging as the most susceptible, followed by the I, X, and O-type contacts.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Thakur S, Singh GK, Singhal P, et al. OXIS Contacts and Approximal Caries in 3-6-year-old Children: A Prospective Cohort Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(S-1):S29-S34.