Treat the patient to control the infection.

This involves:

• Identification of the bacteria (ms) levels to determine degree of infection.   
• Treatment with chlorhexidine for 2-4 weeks to control the infection.  Application of 10% Povidone-iodine (synonym: PVP iodine) applied topically every two weeks has also been used successfully*.
• A similar treatment can be applied using white iodine (this compound has the stain removed).
• Monitoring ms levels after treatment for one year.

Heal the incipient lesion (non-restorative procedure).

Arrest caries and restore cavitated lesions (restorative procedure)

*(Lopez L et al., Topical antimicrobial therapy in the prevention of early childhood caries. Pediatr Dent, 21:9-11.1998).   .

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