Children and Caries

Specific Recommendations for ages 0-5 Early childhood caries has increased significantly in children, particularly those aged 2–5 years.[1] The disease progression in this age group has been the subject of numerous recent headline media reports. Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as a primary method of […]

There are many misconceptions within the public perception of dentistry surrounding dental insurance. The first and most important is the idea that “dental insurance” is “insurance” at all. When individuals purchase “insurance”, the purpose is primarily to protect themselves from an unlikely event or situation that would cost a significant amount of money—for example, the […]

New Directions in the Etiology of Dental Caries Disease V. Kim Kutsch, DMD, and Douglas A. Young, DDS, EDD, MBA, MS Abstract: This review explores the multifactorial etiology of dental caries disease. Current theories suggest that a singular focus on mutans streptococci and lactobacillus as the sole causative microbiological agents is no longer a viable strategy in treatment of this prevalent […]

RISK FACTORS AND BIOFILM CHALLENGE; APPROXIMATELY 24% OF THE POPULATION.* Roger 1/25/10: Roger is a 51-year-old police officer who has been seeing the same dentist for over 20 years. He hasn’t had any decay in the last 9 years and has two risk factors. He takes a medication for high blood pressure and likes to […]

There have been a number of studies conducted over the past 10 years looking at the correlation between Dental Caries risk and high BMI. These studies (basically) conclude that high BMI correlates to higher Caries Risk; in general children with high BMI consume more carbohydrate and sugar than their normal BMI counterparts. What is interesting […]

Approximately 3% of the population.* Mary 12/5/05: Mary is a 34-year-old stay-at-home mother with 2 children. She had a cavity 16 years ago when she was a teenager, and the experience dramatically changed her perspective on her oral care habits. Mary says that she brushes her teeth twice daily and flosses about once a […]

Caries risk assessment has been around for a while. However, new findings of the true benefits continue to surface. Here are 5 ways caries risk assessment is beneficial to the practitioner and the patient. 1. Caries Risk Assessment is Predictive We can tell the patient with confidence what will happen in the future. It allows […]

There are two types of behaviors, modifiable (things you can change, like home care and diet) and non-modifiable (things you can’t change like medication use and special needs). One of the greatest behaviors we encourage in our patients is of course tooth brushing, but what does the research actually say? Does tooth brushing prevent […]