Cariology for the 21st Century: current caries management concepts for dental practice

The objective of this manuscript is to provide an overview of currently accepted, evidence-based and/or expert opinion recommendations for the prevention and management of dental caries in dental practice. Discussions are centered on current concepts for caries lesion detection (e.g., cavitated and non-cavitated lesions) and diagnosis (e.g., active vs. arrested lesions), including thresholds for non-surgical (e.g., fluorides, sealant) and surgical (i.e., restorative) interventions, risk assessment, and a review of caries management interventions for caries disease management. The goal is to prevent and manage the caries disease process using patient-centered, risk-based interventions supported by the best available evidence, taking into account the dentist's clinical expertise and the patient's treatment needs and preferences, in order to maintain or re-establish health and preserve tooth structure.