[A discussion of 2 remarkable schools]

Opinions on the role of the pulp in the status of dental enamel in health and caries are contradictory. Three parameters are discussed: the notion of a normal enamel, the initiation of a carious process, and prediction of the disease course. The third aspect of the discussion is touched upon in this paper: prediction of caries. The enamel resistance test (ERT) is suggested to be used for caries prediction, although its value is denied by some authors. The author of this paper advocates wide use of prophylactic measures, no matter what the results of ERT are.