Treatment protocols: nonfluoride management of the caries disease process and available diagnostics

TY - JOUR

T1 - Treatment protocols: nonfluoride management of the caries disease process and available diagnostics

AU - Twetman, Svante

N1 - Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2010/7/1

Y1 - 2010/7/1

N2 - This article reviews the evidence for saliva diagnostics and some antibacterial concepts with potential to interfere with the caries process. It concludes that there is incomplete evidence to evaluate the role of chair-side tests and to recommend general topical applications of antibacterial agents to prevent caries lesions. However, such measures may be considered to control the disease in caries-active individuals. There is evidence that xylitol has antibacterial properties that alter the oral ecology but the clinical evidence for caries prevention is rated as fair. However, preventive programs should include as many complementary strategies as possible, especially when directed toward caries-active patients. Therefore, any antibacterial intervention should always be combined with a fluoride program, until stronger evidence for its use in caries prevention and management becomes available.

AB - This article reviews the evidence for saliva diagnostics and some antibacterial concepts with potential to interfere with the caries process. It concludes that there is incomplete evidence to evaluate the role of chair-side tests and to recommend general topical applications of antibacterial agents to prevent caries lesions. However, such measures may be considered to control the disease in caries-active individuals. There is evidence that xylitol has antibacterial properties that alter the oral ecology but the clinical evidence for caries prevention is rated as fair. However, preventive programs should include as many complementary strategies as possible, especially when directed toward caries-active patients. Therefore, any antibacterial intervention should always be combined with a fluoride program, until stronger evidence for its use in caries prevention and management becomes available.

KW - Anti-Infective Agents, Local

KW - Biofilms

KW - Dental Caries

KW - Dental Caries Activity Tests

KW - Dental Plaque

KW - Evidence-Based Dentistry

KW - Humans

KW - Primary Prevention

KW - Saliva

KW - Salivary Proteins and Peptides

KW - Secondary Prevention

U2 - 10.1016/j.cden.2010.03.009

DO - 10.1016/j.cden.2010.03.009

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20630194

SN - 0011-8532

VL - 54

SP - 527

EP - 540

JO - Dental Clinics of North America

JF - Dental Clinics of North America

IS - 3

ER -