Advances in caries diagnostics and the changing face of dental practice

Advances in scientific understanding of disease processes and diagnostic technology will lead to changes in the ways caries is managed. These changes will include new relationships with patients that will call for greater skills in the behavioral sciences. Specifically, there will be a need for greater understanding of the biopsychosocial and the socio-cultural bases of disease and health care behavior and enhanced communication skills. The need to understand and respond to demographic forces-especially those that involve population groups at increased risk-and to work collaboratively with medicine will also assume greater significance.