Changes in Dental Caries 1953–2003

Abstract

In the first half of the 20th century, indices and methods of conducting surveys of the level of dental diseases were developed. Modern epidemiological studies began in the fifties and many reliable studies have been conducted after 1960. In the following decades, a substantial decline of caries prevalence was documented in the majority of the highly industrialized countries, with reductions of lifetime caries experience exceeding 75%. The decline comes to an end when low or very low levels of prevalence are reached. Children of low socioeconomic status and immigrants from outside Western Europe, however, generally have higher disease levels and may cause increases in caries prevalence. For this and other reasons, caries epidemiology will remain an indispensable part of dental public health.

Light-emitting diode and laser fluorescence–based devices in detecting occlusal caries

“…19 Because of the special morphology of the pits and fissures and the difficulty of plaque removal, occlusal caries are difficult to detect. 20 Furthermore, occlusal dentin caries has been observed under a fissure that seems intact to the naked eye due to the use of fluorides making the detection of such lesions difficult by conventional methods (visual examination and radiography).…”

Is there a role for triclosan/copolymer toothpaste in the management of periodontal disease?

“…The prevalence of dental caries dropped at least 50%. 1 An amazing reduction for what had been a ubiquitous health care problem. The principal agent of change was universally agreed to be the addition of fl uoride to toothpastes.…”

Preventive dental work with children of preschool age / Preventivni stomatološki rad sa djecom predškolskog uzrasta

“…Rezultati su saglasni sa onima u siromašnim nerazvijenim zemljama. Socio-ekonomski faktori koji uslovljavaju karijes poput lošeg socijalnog statusa, siromaštva, etničke pripadnosti, zanemarivanja lečenja, nivo obrazovanosti i pokrivenosti stanovništva mrežom ustanova za lečenje (11,12) premda nisu ispitivani, prisutni su i u našoj sredini. Nizak nivo informisanosti budućih majki o oralnom zdravlju je u našim uslovima izuzetno važan faktor koji doprinosi nastanku karijesa kod dece.…”