Dental Caries (White Spot)

Localized destruction of the tooth surface initiated by decalcification of the enamel followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures and leading to cavity formation. If left unchecked, the cavity may penetrate the enamel and dentin and reach the pulp. The three most prominent theories used to explain the etiology of the disease are that acids produced by bacteria lead to decalcification; that micro-organisms destroy the enamel protein; or that keratolytic micro-organisms produce chelates that lead to decalcification.

Also Known As:

Networked: 4885 relevant articles (247 outcomes, 675 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Periodontal Diseases (Periodontal Disease)
2.	Dental Plaque
3.	Gingivitis
4.	Dental Fluorosis
5.	Periodontitis

Experts

1.	Burne, Robert A: 15 articles (11/2015 - 09/2007)
2.	Burne, R A: 13 articles (08/2013 - 12/2000)
3.	Milgrom, Peter: 12 articles (01/2015 - 03/2003)
4.	Cury, Jaime Aparecido: 12 articles (01/2014 - 01/2003)
5.	Sheiham, A: 11 articles (10/2015 - 04/2001)
6.	Twetman, Svante: 11 articles (12/2014 - 01/2003)
7.	Levy, Steven M: 10 articles (08/2015 - 02/2003)
8.	Bian, Zhuan: 10 articles (04/2012 - 11/2002)
9.	Maia, Lucianne Cople: 9 articles (05/2015 - 01/2003)
10.	Buzalaf, Marília Afonso Rabelo: 9 articles (05/2015 - 10/2005)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Dental Caries:

1.	FluoridesIBA 08/01/2014 - "A new, highly filled primer is currently marketed as a fluoride delivery system effective in reducing white spot lesions in orthodontic patients. " 11/01/2013 - "Thus, a constant supply of low levels of fluoride in biofilm/saliva/dental interference is considered the most beneficial in preventing dental caries." 10/01/1999 - "The widespread use of fluoride has dramatically reduced the prevalence of dental caries and the rate of the progression of carious lesions. " 01/01/1990 - "A variety of patient-applied fluoride agents are extremely effective in preventing severe radiation-associated dental decay, which is likely to occur after salivary gland dysfunction. " 06/01/1983 - "The best individual and community protection against dental decay today is offered by the proper use of fluorides. "
2.	ToothpastesIBA 12/01/2003 - "This oral health education program was effective in establishing good oral health habits among preschool children and in increasing oral health knowledge of their parents, in conjunction with supervised daily tooth brushing with fluoridated toothpaste, which could reduce the development of new dental caries in preschool children in China." 03/01/2014 - "Standard F toothpastes are effective in reducing dental caries in the primary teeth of preschool children and thus their use should be recommended to this age group." 02/01/2013 - "Standard F toothpastes are effective in reducing dental caries in the primary teeth of preschool children and thus their use should be recommended to this age group." 10/01/2003 - "Parental access to information in the UK and to fluoridated toothpaste in Japan could have helped to prevent dental caries in these expatriate British children." 07/01/2015 - "Effect of toothpaste with nano-sized trimetaphosphate on dental caries: In situ study."
3.	Dentifrices (Dentifrice)IBA 01/01/1988 - "The results suggest that plaque mineral enrichment may be even more effective than F dentifrice in preventing dental caries." 01/01/2012 - "Results revealed that the test dentifrice was effective in inhibiting the progression of plaque and control of dental caries as compared to the placebo dentifrice." 11/01/1984 - "Relative efficacy of dentifrices containing 250 or 1000 ppm F- in preventing dental caries--report of a 32-month clinical trial." 01/01/2015 - "This study attempted to clarify the mechanisms of action of fluoridated acidic liquid dentifrices against dental caries. " 12/01/1957 - "Studies on salivary lactobacilli and dental caries in children during a dentifrice test program."
4.	ChlorhexidineIBA 12/01/2013 - "Dental hygienists scored high on knowledge of CRA with the exception of white spot lesions as a risk factor (42%) and efficacy of chlorhexidine in caries management (61%). " 01/01/2015 - "Although previous reviews have concluded that some formulations of chlorhexidine may be effective in inhibiting the progression of established caries in children, there is currently a lack of evidence to either claim or refute a benefit for its use in preventing dental caries. " 06/01/2006 - "It was concluded that six-monthly applications of chlorhexidine varnish were effective in reducing the incidence of dental caries in primary molars." 01/01/2006 - "Six-monthly applications of chlorhexidine varnish were effective in reducing the incidence of dental caries in primary molars." 03/01/2000 - "However, there is evidence to suggest that mouthrinses containing active agents effective against Streptococcus mutans, such as chlorhexidine, may also have a role in inhibiting dental caries. "
5.	XylitolIBA 09/01/2012 - "Xylitol is effective when used by the mother prenatally or after delivery to prevent mutans transmission and subsequent dental caries in the offspring. " 07/01/2012 - "The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of the use of xylitol-containing tooth-wipes in preventing dental caries in young children. " 01/01/1973 - "Efficacy of xylitol in reducing dental caries in rats." 06/01/2015 - "Randomised controlled trials assessing the effects of xylitol products on dental caries in children and adults. " 01/01/2015 - "We included randomised controlled trials assessing the effects of xylitol products on dental caries in children and adults. "
6.	Pit and Fissure Sealants (Dental Sealants)IBA 01/01/1989 - "The preponderance of dental caries is located on the pit and fissure surfaces of teeth, an area where dental sealants are most effective in preventing this malady. " 10/01/2010 - "Dental pit and fissure sealants have been shown to be effective in the prevention of dental caries. " 01/01/2008 - "Although dental sealants are effective in reducing the risk of having dental decay, their rate of utilization among children and adolescents is below the objective set forth by the Healthy People 2010 document. " 08/26/2005 - "Dental sealants are effective in preventing dental caries in the occlusal (chewing) and other pitted and fissured surfaces of the teeth. " 01/01/1995 - "This utilization pattern for dental sealants would contribute to improved efficiency of sealant usage in the treatment of dental caries, particularly at a time when caries frequency is declining. "
7.	AntigensIBA 05/15/2002 - "Significant protective effects against dental caries have been shown in experimental animals, such as mice, rats and monkeys, which have been subcutaneously, orally, or intranasally immunized with these antigens. " 05/01/1995 - "sobrinus induces the production of antigen-specific mucosal antibody and confers protection against dental caries." 06/01/1986 - "Local active gingival immunization by a 3,800-molecular-weight streptococcal antigen in protection against dental caries." 12/01/1980 - "The possible regulatory role of streptococcal antigen-specific suppressor factor in protection against dental caries is discussed." 06/01/2013 - "Clinical trials have indicated that a mucosal immune response to Streptococcus mutans crucial antigens can influence the pathogenesis of dental caries. "
8.	VaccinesIBA 08/01/2003 - "Intranasally administered dental caries vaccines show significant promise for human application. " 09/01/1984 - "The current status of vaccines against dental caries indicates that the present preparations are effective in animals and should be used in clinical trials to determine their effectiveness as an alternative to present methods of control. " 05/01/2005 - "Immunological and protective effects of diepitopic subunit dental caries vaccines." 05/15/2002 - "Only a few studies, however, have examined the efficacy of dental caries vaccines in humans. " 05/01/2013 - "This review will give a brief historical retrospect on study of dental caries and pathogenesis, effective targets for anti-caries vaccines, oral immune system and immunization against dental caries. "
9.	Sodium Fluoride (Ossin)FDA Link 01/01/2014 - "The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess the noncontact remineralization effects of a commercial 5% sodium fluoride varnish on white spot lesions (WSLs). " 01/01/2007 - "The aim of the present study was to assess the efficiency of 0.2% sodium fluoride mouthwash in prevention of dental caries according to DMFT index. " 07/01/1951 - "Control of dental caries by topical applications of sodium fluoride; second experimental study in Wellington." 10/01/1949 - "Control of dental caries by topical application of sodium fluoride; experimental study on 97 children in Wellington." 11/22/1946 - "The effect of topically applied sodium fluoride on dental caries experience; report of findings for the third study year."
10.	AntibodiesIBA 05/01/2012 - "Numerous studies have investigated not only the mechanisms by which AgI/II signaling is transduced within cells, but have also attempted to use AgI/II-specific antibodies to treat dental caries and host immune responses. " 01/01/1991 - "Studies in man have focused mainly on salivary and serum antibodies developing naturally in response to oral colonization by mutans streptococci, or in relation to the development of dental caries. " 01/01/1990 - "This study supports the concept of immune regulation of dental caries by naturally occurring antibodies induced by swallowing S. " 01/01/1984 - "The results of the present study indicate that salivary antibodies are linked with the control of human dental caries." 04/01/2010 - "However, we could not find any correlation between serum antibodies and dental caries except that there was an increased trend of serum antibodies to GTF with the increased number of carious lesions."

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Oral Hygiene (Dental Hygiene) 12/01/2004 - "Although an improvement in oral hygiene, gingival conditions and dental caries has been reported recently in children, the prevalence of these conditions is still high compared to that found in the developed countries. " 05/01/2014 - "This study suggests that careful hygienic procedures are needed to reduce the risk for dental caries after orthodontic treatment, despite overall improved oral hygiene status." 01/01/1995 - "The mere introduction of the project might have led to other changes affecting dental caries, such as improved oral hygiene and better dietary habits." 01/01/2015 - "This study aims at assessing the durability of a sealant (OpalSeal, Ultradent) for protection against white-spot lesion formation in orthodontic patients over 26 weeks in vivo, taking into account the provision or absence of an adequate oral hygiene. " 12/01/2001 - "It is concluded that oral hygiene, gingival condition and dental caries has improved since 1993."
2.	Fluoridation 07/01/1994 - "The most widely used systemic alternative to water fluoridation is salt fluoridation, which has been found to be effective against dental caries in programs conducted in Switzerland and Hungary. " 05/29/1992 - "Although fluoridation of community water is highly effective in reducing the occurrence of dental caries, the prevalence of dental caries remains high in the United States. " 07/01/1994 - "Fluoridation of domestic water supplies has been shown to be effective in reducing the prevalence of dental caries in numerous studies conducted world-wide over the last 50 years. " 09/01/2015 - "Water fluoridation is effective in reducing dental caries, but does not appear to close the gap between non-Indigenous children and Indigenous children." 01/01/2006 - "Is water fluoridation effective in reducing inequalities in dental caries distribution in developing countries? "
3.	Lasers (Laser) 01/01/2014 - "Laser irradiation of enamel through a topically applied APF gel is effective in the prophylaxis and management of dental caries." 06/01/2015 - "The aims of this in vitro study were to investigate whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) could analyze infiltration of resin infiltrant (RI) into early dental caries (EC), and to confirm the correlation between the results of OCT and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) for evaluation of RI infiltration into EC. " 04/01/2015 - "In vitro study on selective removal of bovine demineralized dentin using nanosecond pulsed laser at wavelengths around 5.8 μm for realizing less invasive treatment of dental caries." 02/01/2006 - "The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the demineralization depth measured by dental computed tomography (CT) and the measured value from a non-destructive dental caries diagnosis with a laser. " 01/01/2006 - "The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of a laser-induced infrared fluorescence method, DIAGNOdent, for measuring orthodontically induced white spot lesions. "
4.	Dental Care 03/01/1999 - "The community program contributed to improved dental health in most children even if it could not prevent the development of dental caries in very low-income children with severely decayed teeth and no access to dental care. " 01/01/2015 - "A new primary dental care service compared with standard care for child and family to reduce the re-occurrence of childhood dental caries (Dental RECUR): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial." 01/01/2015 - "The aim of the present study was therefore to use anthropometric data obtained professionally to investigate the association between Body Mass Index and dental caries experience in children aged 5-8 years receiving treatment in a referral centre for paediatric dental care in the Netherlands. " 01/01/2014 - "The aims of the study were to assess the burden of dental caries and gingival health among children aged 6 and 12 years in relation to sociodemographic factors and to ascertain the trend over time in the occurrence of caries and the need for dental care. " 07/01/2013 - "The study subjects were characterized by a lack of dental care services, high prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs. "
5.	Toothbrushing 01/01/1990 - "This study shows that restricting consumption of confectionery and beverages may be effective in preventing dental caries; however, encouragement of toothbrushing may not be effective in limiting dental caries progression." 01/01/2015 - "The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the self-reported toothbrushing frequency can be used as a proxy measure for clinical oral hygiene indices in epidemiological studies on dental caries in adolescents. " 01/01/2015 - "The objective of the study is to show a theory-informed, evidence-based program to improve twice daily toothbrushing and oral health-related quality of life that may reduce dental caries, dental treatment need, and costs. " 02/01/2013 - "We aimed to assess the association between the roll-out of the national nursery toothbrushing program and a reduction in dental decay in five-year-old children in a Scotland-wide population study. " 03/01/2012 - "This study revealed a 'tooth worm' phenomenon, indicating that parental 'tooth worm' belief is associated with early establishment of regular toothbrushing habit and reduction of dental caries in children. "