Preventive aspects of root caries

Several factors are responsible for an increasing number of exposed root surfaces, resulting in a higher root caries risk. Assuming that the pathogenesis of root and enamel caries have strong similarities, the same preventive methods could be applied for root caries and for enamel caries. However, due to a higher critical pH for dentine/cement, the prevention for root caries should be more intensive. Several studies indicate that fluoride is the cornerstone of root caries prevention. In addition, antimicrobials, in particular chlorhexidine, can be helpful in inhibiting root caries development. This paper proposes the use of three different risk categories for root caries to help adjust the intensity of preventive measures to the needs of the individual patient.