The Keys to Caries Management

By Amber W. Hunt, BSDH, MS, RDH and Susan Lynn Tolle, BSDH, MS

Dental caries, a multifactorial disease involving oral biofilm dysbiosis and several bacterial species, is the most prevalent chronic disease for all ages. Despite being preventable, 92% of adults ages 20 to 64 have had caries in their permanent dentition. Additionally, the prevalence of untreated caries is approximately 13% for those ages 5 to 19, 25% for ages 20 to 64, and 20% for those age 65 and older. Protective factors, risk factors, and disease indicators should be assessed for all patients to determine caries risk level. Furthermore, individualized evidence-based recommendations should be provided for caries prevention and intervention based on caries risk level; one preventive or therapeutic intervention is not effective for all patients.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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