Guiding the practitioner through the caries management by risk assessment (CAMBRA) protocol

In the past, the approach for treating caries was mainly symptomatic and involved removal of caries, teeth restoration, oral hygiene instructions, and fluoride applications in cases that presented with significant disease. As the bacterial component of the disease was revealed, questions emerged concerning the significance of each strain present and intervention in the process of caries development. This article reviews the evidence that supports the implementation of the current caries risk assessment and management protocol (CAMBRA). It details the current risk factors, techniques and devices for assessing them and, interventions that should be considered in order to address the risk. The paper defines specific guidelines for managing risks related to caries. Intervention should be customized according to the risk determined for each specific patient.