Prior to fluoridation of public drinking water, tooth decay was widespread. To date, the epidemic of dental decay has dropped off dramatically. That said, in highly susceptible patients, it seems that no amount of careful brushing and flossing, professional hygiene care, fluoride, and diet control keep the new cavities from recurring. In recent times a new protocol CAMBRA has been developed to help identify this population of highly susceptible patients. It consists of measuring oral pH, saliva flow, and culturing bacteria.
We employ simple approaches to help prevent decay in most patients, like adding baking soda to toothpaste to help neutralize the oral pH. In our highly susceptible patient population, we follow the CAMBRA protocol, adding weekly antibacterial rinses, home fluoride use, and more frequent cleanings and check-ups. In some cases, we also modify the dental materials we select in a treatment plan, to give the patient the greatest longevity.
