Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, remains a widespread global health issue, despite significant advancements in oral care and prevention. In a newly published article, the authors focus on the importance of identifying individual risk factors for caries and implementing targeted preventive measures.
The authors, among others Professor and Senior Scientist Aida Mulic at NIOM, emphasize, that early diagnosis and personalized risk assessment are crucial to controlling the progression of caries and reducing the overall burden of dental disease. Prevention strategies should be adapted based on individual risk levels rather than applied uniformly to all patients.
What did the researchers find out?
The study highlights that caries is a multifactorial disease caused by an imbalance between demineralization and remineralization processes in tooth enamel. Several factors contribute to this imbalance, including poor oral hygiene, frequent consumption of sugary and acidic foods, reduced saliva production, and genetic predispositions affecting enamel development and salivary function.
While overall caries prevalence has declined due to improved oral health awareness and fluoride use, certain age groups remain at high risk. Notably, young adults (aged 19–24) exhibit a significant number of early enamel caries lesions, which suggests that preventive efforts should be strengthened for this group. The authors also discuss how socioeconomic factors, access to dental care, and lifestyle choices influence caries risk, underscoring the need for comprehensive prevention programs.
Key results and main findings
Personalized prevention is the most effective way to manage caries risk. For individuals with low risk, daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste and regular dental check-ups are sufficient. However, those at higher risk require additional interventions, such as fluoride varnishes, high-concentration fluoride gels, silver diamine fluoride treatments, and fissure sealants to protect vulnerable tooth surfaces.
Patient education plays a central role in the prevention, as long-term success depends on behavioral changes, including improved dietary habits and consistent oral hygiene practices.
The findings emphasize that dental health personnel should use risk assessment tools to identify high-risk individuals and tailor their preventive recommendations accordingly. By focusing on early intervention and personalized care, the dental community can reduce the impact of caries and improve oral health outcomes for at-risk populations.