Findings from a caries risk assessment registry quality improvement initiative in an oral health partnership model.

Objectives: This quality improvement study evaluates the impact of a caries risk assessment (CRA) registry on the following: percentage of children with a documented CRA, receipt of preventive and restorative services, and costs of care.

Methods: We used 2014-2019 data for patients aged 0-17 years from 22 locations in a group practice in Wisconsin. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to evaluate changes over time in the following practice-level outcomes: CRA documentation, fluoride receipt, continuing care procedures, restorative procedures, total procedures, and inflation-adjusted costs of care.

Developing a caries risk registry to support caries risk assessment and management for children: A quality improvement initiative.

Objectives: Health registries are commonly used in medicine to support public health activities and are increasingly used in quality improvement (QI) initiatives. Illustrations of dental registries and their QI applications are lacking. Within dentistry, caries risk assessment implementation and documentation are vital to optimal patient care.