Widespread disease caries – even in the supposedly enlightened 21st century, it affects a large number of people worldwide.
As a branch of dentistry, cariology is concerned
cariology is concerned with the causes and development of caries, the diagnostic and treatment options for carious lesions, and preventive strategies to reduce caries-triggering factors.
Dental caries (synonyms: Dental caries; dental caries; tooth decay; colloquially: tooth decay) is one of the most widespread infectious diseases worldwide. The development of caries is due in particular to the presence of mutans streptococci in the oral cavity ecosystem. However, although it can be assumed that mutans streptococci are present in every healthy oral flora, not everyone necessarily suffers from caries. Rather, the development and progression of caries can be influenced as a multifactorial process.
The oral cavity ecosystem consists of a large number of microbiotopes – each of which is a complex ecosystem in its own right, whose structure and microbial composition depends on the supply of cariogenic (caries-producing) food, the length of time it remains on the tooth surface and its surface properties.
One metabolic product of cariogenic microorganisms is lactic acid. Acid in any form demineralizes the tooth surface: its hardness is reduced. If the progression of this demineralization is not stopped by deprivation of the food supply and hardness-increasing measures such as surface fluoridation, tooth structure loss and cavity formation – the formation of a hole and destruction of the tooth – will ultimately be the result.
The bottom line is this: The longer sugary food residues in niches between teeth or in fissures of occlusal surfaces are available to cariogenic microorganisms without their growth being regularly disrupted by consistent dental care, the more likely caries development is.
Scientific research in the field of cariology provides the dentist as a practitioner with the indispensable knowledge on the basis of which he can eliminate caries, or better – together with the patient – prevent its development from the outset.
Caries prevention and elimination measures include, for example:
- Recalls – regular control examinations.
- Professional dental cleaning (PZR)
- Fluoridation – measures in the dental office and recommendations for home.
- Impart oral hygiene techniques and help with their practical implementation.
- Impart the necessary knowledge about the causal relationships of caries development.
- Recommendations for a tooth-healthy diet
- Caries diagnostics
- Caries therapy
Below you will find the most important services of cariology. Further information on the topics of cariology and prophylaxis or cariology and filling therapy can be found under separate headings in this dental encyclopedia.
