PREVENTION OF DENTAL CARIES

Dr. Shahzadi Tayyaba Hashmi

Introduction In spite of widespread awareness, dental caries is still the

second most common disease of human civilization after common cold

According to WHO Dental caries is a preventable disease of the mineralized tissues of the teeth with a multi-functional etiology related to the interactions over time between tooth substance & certain micro-organisms & dietary carbohydrates producing plaque acids.

Levels of caries prevention

Primary prevention

Secondary prevention

Tertiary prevention

Primary prevention

o Prevention of disease initiation

Secondary prevention

oPrevention of disease progress and recurrence

Tertiary prevention

oPrevention of loss of function

Primary preventionI. Primary prevention protects individuals

against disease, often by placing barriers between the etiological agent and the host

II. Primary prevention is about keeping children’s teeth free from dental caries

Primary prevention

Preventive services Health promotion Specific protection

Services provided by the individual

•Diet planning,•Periodic visits to the dental office

•Appropriate use of fluorides,•Ingestion of sufficient fluoridated water•Use of fluoride dentifrices•Oral hygiene practices

Services provided by the community

•Dental health education programs,•Promotion of research

•Community or school water fluoridation•School fluoride mouth rinse•Tablet and sealant programs

Services provided by the dental professionals

•Patient education,•Plaque control programs•Diet counseling•Dental caries activity test

•Topical application of fluorides•Fluoride supplements and rinses•Pits and fissure sealants

Secondary prevention

Secondary prevention aims to limit the progression and effect of a disease at as early a stage as possible after onset

Secondary prevention

Preventive services Early diagnosis and prompt treatment

Services provided by the individual • Self examination and referral• Use of dental services

Services provided by the community • Periodic screening and referral•Provision of dental services

Services provided by the dental professionals

• Complete examination•Prompt treatment of incipient lesions•Preventive resin restoration•Simple restorative dentistry•Pulp capping

Tertiary prevention It employs measures necessary to replace lost

tissues and to rehabilitate patients to the point that function is near normal as possible after the failure of secondary prevention

Preventive services Disability limitation rehabilitation

Services provided by the individual

• Use of dental services

• Use of dental services

Services provided by the community

• Provision of dental services

• Provision of dental services

Services provided by the dental professionals

• Complex restorative dentistry• Pulpotomy•Root canal therapy• Extractions

• Removable and fixed prosthodontics• Implants

Tertiary prevention

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