Previous caries experience
One of the best predictors of future caries is previous caries
experience. With children under the age of 5, a history of dental caries should automatically classify a child as high
risk for future decay. However, previous caries experience is not a useful caries - risk predictor for infants and toddlers
because, even if these children are at high risk, there may
not have been enough time for carious lesion development.
Furthermore, the goal of caries-risk assessment in young
children is to prevent caries initiation before the first signs
of disease.