Summary
Dental caries is a multifactorial
process involving substrate, specific bacteria, host factors and time. One
factor by itself will not initiate caries.
The carious process may be though
of as a chemical reaction with a number of intermediate steps. It begins with
the intake of cariogenic foods and may end with a cavitated lesion if allowed to
proceed to its end.
The various means by which the
carious process may be inhibited at the specific stages of progression has been
described.
If the disease progression is prevented from producing a cavitated lesion in the tooth, this process may be reversible and curable.
Previous
First Page
Last updated: August 08, 2005 .