Fluoride’s Vital Role in Caries Prevention and Management
Dental caries, although preventable, remains a challenge for practicing dental professionals. From 2013 to 2016, 13.4% of children and adolescents ages 3 to 19 had active or untreated caries and 22.8% of adults ages 20 to 74 had untreated tooth decay.1 The caries process involves demineralization of the calcified tooth structures with a breakdown of the organic matrix.2 While the process is multifactorial, Streptococcus mutans remains the main culprit. This microorganism populates the tooth surface and penetrates through the tooth-layered structures during favorable conditions, such as in presence of the fermentable carbohydrates.3
* References and figures can be found in the original article via the link above.
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