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The science behind caries prevention

R M Duckworth1

  • 1Unilever Dental Research, Port Sunlight Laboratory, Bebington, Merseyside, UK.

International Dental Journal
|December 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Fluoride is the most effective anticaries agent, inhibiting enamel demineralization and enhancing remineralization. Its persistence in saliva and plaque boosts efficacy in dental products.

Area of Science:

  • Dental Science
  • Biochemistry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Anticaries agents target plaque bacteria, tooth enamel chemistry, or oral pH.
  • Chlorhexidine shows anticaries potential but has formulation and side effect issues.
  • Calcium salts and xylitol may offer some clinical benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review anticaries agents and their mechanisms of action.
  • To highlight the clinical efficacy and mechanisms of fluoride.
  • To explain the enhanced effectiveness of certain fluoride formulations.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of anticaries agents and their modes of action.
  • Analysis of clinical evidence for fluoride's anticaries effects.
  • Examination of fluoride retention in oral environments.

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Main Results:

  • Fluoride effectively inhibits enamel demineralization and promotes remineralization.
  • Fluoride persists in saliva and plaque between applications, maintaining active concentrations.
  • Oral fluoride retention explains the superior clinical performance of sodium fluoride over sodium monofluorophosphate dentifrices.

Conclusions:

  • Fluoride is the most clinically proven anticaries agent.
  • Fluoride's efficacy is enhanced by its retention in the oral cavity.
  • Understanding fluoride's mechanisms is crucial for developing effective anticaries strategies.