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.