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Advances in Dental Research
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Adv Dent Res 9:106-109, July, 1995
© 1995 SAGE Publications

Can Prevention Eliminate Caries?

D. O'Mullane

WHO Collaborating Centre for Oral Health Services Research University Dental School Wilton, Cork Ireland

There are four main factors involved in the carious process: at-risk tooth structure, plaque flora, fermentable carbohydrates, and time. Based on our knowledge of the carious process, four main preventive strategies have been developed over the years, namely, fluorides, fissure sealing, dietary choice, and plaque control. Fluorides are having a major impact on smooth-surface caries; hence, strategies combining fluorides and fissure sealing are very effective. However, use of fissure sealing is still problematic. Changing dietary practices with a view to reducing dental caries seems to be having little impact on a global scale. Plaque control, as practiced routinely by the majority of people, is not sufficient to result in caries reductions. Deprivation and poverty are strongly associated with high caries levels. Although the preventive strategies currently available are likely to result in lower caries levels for many, for logistical reasons and because of factors associated with deprivation and poverty, caries is likely to remain a major public health problem in most communities for the foreseeable future.

Key Words: Dental caries • preventive strategies.

Advances in Dental Research, Vol. 9, No. 2, 106-109 (1995)
DOI: 10.1177/08959374950090020201
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