Improving caries diagnosis and early intervention in the primary and young permanent dentition

Contemporary dental care incorporates individually tailored preventive protocols based on caries risk assessment and minimally invasive tooth preparation for restoration. Methods that allow for the earliest possible detection of caries provide clinicians with the options of preventive intervention or caries excavation during initial enamel or dentinal penetration. Adding laser fluorescence to the traditional caries diagnostic armamentarium enhances diagnostic accuracy and the clinician's ability to confidently select the appropriate modality for intervention in the primary and young permanent dentition.