MANAGEMENT OF DENTAL CARIES

Various methods of preventing tooth caries have been established, which have shown equal efficiency in carious control and are being used these days. They have been classified independently as chemical, mechanical and nutritional. Please read the following for details:

A) Chemical Measures For Caries Control:

Use of:

1) Substances which alter the tooth surface or tooth structure

a) Fluoride Exposure Application
Fluoridation of water supply ( with 1 ppm of F-)
Topical application of fluoride

i) Self-application
- Low dosehigh frequency rinses
(0.05% NaF daily)
- High potencylow frequency rinses
(0.2% NaF weekly)
- Fluoridated Dentifrices Toothpastes
(twice daily)
ii) Professional Application
- acidulated phosphate fluoride gel (APF gel)
(1.23% annually or semi-annually)
- NaF solution (2%)
- stannous fluoride (8%)

b) Bis-biguanides ( like chlorhexidine , alexidine)

c) Silver Nitrate

d) Zinc Chloride and Pottasium Ferrocyanide Solution

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2) Substances Which Interfere With Carbohydrate Degradation Through Enzymatic Alteration:

a) Vitamin K – Use of Synthetic Vit K (2-methyl-1,4-naphtoquinone)
b) Sarcoside - Na Lauroyl Sarcosinate,
Na Palmitoyl Sarcosinate,
Na Dehydro Acetate

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3) Substabces Which Interfere With Bacteria Growth And Metabolism:

a) Urea and Ammonium Compounds
b) Chlorophyll
c) Penicillin
d) Other antibiotics ( erythromycin, kanamycin, spiromycin, tetracycline, tyrothricin, vancomycin)
e) Caries vaccine
f) Nitrofurans – furacin, furadroxyl

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B) Mechanical Measures For Caries Cntrol:

1) Dental Prophylaxis (routine scaling and polishing)
2) Toothbrushing
3) Mouth Rinsing
4) Dental Floss
5) Oral Irrigators
6) Chewing Xylitol Gums (for 5 to 30 mints after meal)
7) Detergent Foods in Diet (hard, fibrous foods)
8) Pit and Fisure Sealants

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C) Nutrietional Measures For Caries Control:

1) Diet Counselling
2) Restriction of Soft, Sticky Refined Carbohydrate Intake
3) Limiting in Between Meals.