" after we apply this to young children , it allows us to predict something might be their predicted scarring history - the variety of cavities that they ' ll get by , say , their latter 20s or early 30s , " says researcher paul denny . designated the caries assessment and hazard rating ( sam ) test , the tool measures the relative concentrations in saliva of three types of sugar chains called oligosaccharides . the same sugar chains are presence on tooth surfaces .
a test can identify cavities .