Beltrán-Aquilar ED, Estupinan-Day S, Báez R. Analysis of prevalence and trends of dental caries in the Americans between 1970 and 1990s. Int Dent J. 1999; 49:322-329
Downer MC, Drugan CS, Blinkhorn AS. Dental caries experience of British children in an international context. Community Dent Hlth. 2005; 22:86-93
Marthaler TM, O'Mullan DM, Vrbic V. The prevalence of dental caries in Europe 1990–1995. Caries Res. 1996; 30:237-255
Whelton H. Overview of the impact of changing global patterns of dental caries experience on caries clinical trials. J Dent Res. 2004; 83:(Spec No C)C29-34
Petersen PE, Bourgeois D, Ogawa H, Estupinan-Day S, Ndiaye C. The global burden of oral diseases and risks to oral health. Bull World Health Organ. 2005; 83:661-669
Milsom KM, Blinkhorn AS, Tickle M. The incidence of dental caries in the primary molar teeth of young children receiving National Health Service funded dental care in practices in the North West of England. Br Dent J. 2008; 205
Kidd EA, Fejerskov O. What constitutes dental caries? Histopathology carious enamel and dentin related to the action of cariogenic biofilms. J Dent Res. 2004; 83:35-38
Featherstone JD. The continuum of dental caries – evidence for a dynamic disease process. J Dent Res. 2004; 83:39-42
McIntyre J. The nature and progression of dental caries. In: Mount GHW (ed). Barcelona: Mosby; 1998
Bjorndal L, Larsent T A clinical and microbiological study of deep carious lesions, during stepwise excavation using long time intervals. Caries Res. 1997; 31:411-417
Bader J, Shugans D Systematic reviews of selected dental caries and management methods. J Dent Educ. 2001; 65:960-981
Black GV.Chicago: Medicolegal Publishing; 1908
Fejerskov O, Kidd EAM.Oxford: Munksgaard; 2003
Ricketts D, Kidd E, Innes NPT, Clarkson JE. Complete or ultraconservative removal of decayed tissue in unfilled teeth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006; 3
Dawson AS. Dental treatment and dental health. Part 1: a review of studies in support of the philosophy of Minimal Intervention Dentistry. Aust Dent J. 1992; 37:125-132
Evans RW, Pakdaman A, Dennison PJM, Howe ELC. The caries management system: an evidence based preventive strategy for dental practitioners. Application for adults. Aust Dent J. 2008; 53:83-92
Fejerskov O. Changing paradigms in concepts on dental caries: consequences for oral health care. Caries Res. 2004; 38:182-191
Burt BA, Pai S. Sugar consumption and caries risk: a systematic review. J Dent Educ. 2001; 65:1017-1023
Treasure ET, Dever SG. The prevalence of caries in 5 year old children living in fluoridated and non fluoridated communities in New Zealand. N Z Dent J. 1994; 88:9-13
Watt RG, McGlone P. Prevention. Part 2: Dietary advice in the dental surgery. In: Kay EJ (ed). London: British Dental Journal Books; 2004
Moynihan PJ. Dietary advice in dental practice. Br Dent J. 2002; 193:563-568
Marinho V, Higgins JP, Sheiham A, Logan S. Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database. Syst Rev. 2003; 1
Hinds K, Gregory JR.London: HMSO; 1995
Wendt LK, Hallonsten AL, Koch G, Birkhed D. Oral hygiene in relation to caries development and immigrant status in infants and toddlers. Scand J Dent Res. 1994; 102:269-273
Twetman S, Axelsson S, Daahlgren H, Holm AK Caries preventive effect of fluoride toothpaste: a systematic review. Acta Odontol Scand. 2003; 61:347-355
Davies RM, Davies GM, Ellwood RP. Prevention. Part 4: Fluoride: What advice should be given to patients?. Br Dent J. 2003; 195:135-141
Davies RM, Davies GM. High fluoride toothpastes: their potential role in a caries prevention programme. Dent Update. 2008; 35:320-323
Chesters RK, Huntington E, Burchell CK, Stephen KW. Effect of oral care habits on caries in adolescents. Caries Res. 1992; 26:299-304
Marinho VC, Higgins JP, Logan S, Sheiham A. Fluoride mouthrinses for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003; 3
Marinho VC, Higgins JP, Logan S, Sheiham A. Fluoride gels for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002; 2
Marinho VC, Higgins JP, Logan S, Sheiham A. Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002; 3
Marinho VC, Higgins JP, Sheiham A, Logan S. Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004; 1
Ismail AI. Fluoride supplements: current effectiveness side effects and recommendations. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1994; 22:164-172
Ahovuo–Saloranta A, Hiiri A, Nordblad A, Makela M, Worthington HV. Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008; 4
Azarpazhooh A, Main PA. Pit and fissure sealants in the prevention of dental caries in children and adolescents: a systematic review. J Can Dent Assoc. 2008; 74:171-177
Griffin SO, Oong E, Kohn W The effectiveness of sealants in managing caries lesions. J Dent Res. 2008; 87:169-174
Oong EM, Griffin SO, Kohn WG The effect of dental sealants on bacteria levels in caries lesions. A review of the evidence. J Am Dent Assoc. 2008; 139:271-278
Hiiri A, Ahovuo-Saloranta A, Nordblad A, Makela M. Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006; 18
Baker DW, Gazmararaian JA, Williams MV Functional health literacy and the risk of hospital admission among Medicare managed care enrolees. Am J Public Health. 2002; 92:1278-1283
This article highlights the fundamental issues which the primary care team should consider when developing preventive dental advice for their patients. Although it is important to have a clear understanding of the carious process, this knowledge must take account of social influences on health when assessing the preventive strategy for individuals. A key factor is that caries is a lifelong process involving fluctuations in demineralization and remineralization. The dental team should ensure that the oral environment favours remineralization and avoids irreversible loss of enamel and dentine. An understanding of this ‘see-saw’ process will influence not only our preventive philosophy but how we, as health professionals, diagnose and treat dental caries.
Clinical Relevance: Preventing dental caries is an essential skill for all dental professionals. This article brings together the scientific basis of the appropriate advice.
Article
Fifty years ago dental caries was prevalent in all developed countries and the dental profession was overwhelmed by the need and demand to treat the disease and its sequelae. Since then the prevalence and severity of dental caries has declined in all age groups. For example, in the United Kingdom the mean DMFT in 12-year-olds declined from 3.1 (1973) to 0.8 (2003)1 and in Australia from 4.8 (1977) to 1.1 (1993).2 An increasing proportion of adults are retaining more of their teeth into later life. In the United Kingdom, the percentage of edentate adults has declined from 37% in 1968 to 13% in 1998.3 The decline in caries levels has been accompanied by a change in the distribution of lesions; the relative contribution of pit and fissure caries to overall caries levels has increased.4
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Dental Update and reading some of our resources. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:
