Cariësmanagement

Within modern dentistry, a change from invasive to non-invasive strategies
for the treatment of dental caries seems to be apparent. The foundation of
non-invasive care is old, but is now interpreted differently as a result of new
insights. Caries is a dynamic and multi-factorial process that takes place in
the biofilm. There is a growing awareness that dental professionals are better
off concentrating on controlling the causes of the disease than merely fighting
the symptoms. The most important component seems to be the mechanical
cleaning with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Operative care is only
necessary when mechanical cleaning fails to control the caries and when the
process proceeds into the dentin or when mechanical cleaning has become
impossible due to cavitation. However, a suitable treatment strategy, which
takes into consideration the dynamic nature of the caries process, can only
be indicated when one has a clear picture of both the caries activity and the
specific caries risk of the individual patient.