Dental decay is one of the most prevalent diseases of mankind. In many countries, its severity increased in correlation with importation of sugar, reaching its zenith in about 1950s and 1960s. Dental caries, unlike periodontal disease, is now recognized as an infectious, transmissible, multifactorial disease of bacterial origin. The philosophy of caries management by risk assessment, or CAMBRA®, represents a paradigm shift. Current evidence-based emphasis is on the need to recognize a carious

more »

... sion in its earliest stage before demineralization has produced a cavitated lesion that requires restoration by a dentist. Prevention strategy is to determine the dental caries risk factors for patients of all ages and to introduce remineralization strategies into the patient's dental care plan. Therapy should focus on patient-specific approaches that include disease monitoring and preventive therapies supplemented when necessary by restorative care. Changes in the management of dental caries will require health organizations and dental schools to educate students, practitioners, and patients in evidence and risk-based care. This paper discusses current understanding of the caries balance, the process of demineralization and remineralization of tooth structure, caries risk assessment, the different levels of caries risk and a brief review of strategies to control dental caries. Adequate treatment protocols specifically related to the remineralization of non-cavitated lesions using dentifrices and related studies are discussed.