The White Spot Carious Lesions 1.

• "Dental caries is a specific and treatable bacterial infection due to mutans streptococcus (MS) and in the later stages to  lactobacillus.”
  Walter Loesche (Oral Sci Rev. 1976).
  
  
• Currently beginning to believe that while MS is still important, lactobacillus  and other acid producing bacteria are also initially  involved.
  Featherstone
   
• "The development of dental caries is a dynamic process of demineralization of  the dental hard tissues by the products of bacterial metabolism, alternating with periods of remineralization.”
  Harris and Christen ( Primary Preventive Dentistry, 1995), Larsen and Bruun (Clinical Cariology, 1994)
   
• Caries is a multifactorial process (Host Factors, Specific Bacteria, Sugar) and is reversible in the early stages. 
   
• Overall, the caries process has slowed and pit and fissure caries most common.
  Glass et al (Caries Res, 1983)
   
• Children between 6-30 months may become infected by salivary exchange with the mother.
  Brambilla, E, et. al,  JADA129:,871-877,1998.
  Presence of caries in the mother or siblings increases risk of the child.
   
• Anecdotal evidence indicates that not only is dental caries increasing in the low income population but also in middle and higher income children and teenagers.
  Personal communications ADS

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