Caries diagnosis and risk assessment. A review of preventive strategies and management

The scientific basis for caries risk assessment, prevention and treatment on an individual patient basis requires further development, specification and continuing validation. Still, current technologies and techniques, taken together, can provide enhanced capabilities over those that have been employed traditionally. Undoubtedly, the clinical tools for carrying out these responsibilities will be refined and expanded in the future in response to the changing clinical profile of caries in the population. For example, bacteriologic testing methods have become easier and more reliable, and will become more widely used. Other effective methods to detect the early, pre-cavitation stage of caries also should become more available in the future. Practitioners will be continually challenged and responsible for evaluating the effectiveness and value of emerging technologies in their practices and in light of their patients' needs. But how can this be accomplished best? Effectiveness claims will be made for new drugs and devices that come onto the market. There are several sources of information to assist the practitioner in making such decisions. The American Dental Association acceptance programs (voluntary) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration compliance programs (law) provide standards and guidance as to product safety and effectiveness. Without such determinations, the practitioner must judge independently product claims and clinical studies. Marketing materials by themselves (advertisements, videos, pamphlets) may not be sufficient evidence of effectiveness particularly when scientific references supporting claims either are not provided or are inadequate. Peer-reviewed scientific literature in publications of the major scientific and professional associations can be viewed as generally reliable. Changing the way dental caries is managed in clinical practice will require integrating new scientific information and technology into workable clinical procedures. Dental education and third-party reimbursement issues must be addressed also but are beyond the scope of this document. Given that disease patterns are always changing in the population, dentists need to modify practice decisions using risk assessment. Ultimately, the goal for dentistry is that adult patients also will enjoy the same low level of caries experience that many children enjoy today.