**2. Dental caries**

There is now extensive knowledge about the etiology, prevention, diagnostic and treatment of dental caries. Regarding the etiology, the role of bacteria in the production of acid by

Caries Incidence in School Children Included in

tooth decay (Dye, et al., 2010).

a Caries Preventive Program: A Longitudinal Study 365

aged 6–8 years (8–22%) and poor Mexican-Americans aged 9–11 years (38–55%). Although dental caries in older children continues to decline or remain unchanged, increasing tooth decay among some young children is a concern. Moreover, it is also troublesome that paediatric caries appears to be disproportionately affecting young boys compared with girls considering that here has not been a difference in prevalence of caries between boys and girls observed in national surveys prior to NHANES 1999–2004. Although the increasing prevalence of dental caries appears to be occurring in some of our traditionally 'low-risk' groups such as the nonpoor, primary caries is also increasing in a small number of 'highrisk' groups as well. Our findings suggest that future caries research should be expanded towards better understanding of not only the factors that promote paediatric dental caries among traditionally high-risk children, but also among those once considered low-risk for

The prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth of children aged 2–4 years increased from 18% in 1988–1994 to 24% in 1999–2004. Racial disparities persisted in that age group, with caries significantly more prevalent among non-Hispanic black and Mexican American children than among non-Hispanic white children. Caries prevalence in primary teeth of non-Hispanic white children aged 6–8 years remained unchanged, but increased among non-Hispanic black and Mexican American children. State-specific prevalence of caries among third-graders ranged from 40.6% to 72.2%. Caries in permanent teeth declined among children and adolescents, while the prevalence of dental sealants increased significantly. State oral health programs' funding and staffing remained modest, although the proportion of states with sealant programs increased 75% in 2000 to 85% in 2007 and the proportion with fluoride varnish

For most Americans, oral health status has improved since 1988–1994. Dental caries continues to decrease in the permanent dentition for youths, adolescents, and most adults. Among seniors, the prevalence of root caries decreased, but there was no change in the prevalence of coronal caries. However, the prevalence of dental caries in the primary dentition for youths aged 2–5 years increased from 1988–1994 to 1999–2004. The prevalence of dental sealants among youths and adolescents increased. Tooth retention and periodontal health improved for both adults and seniors, and edentulism among seniors continued to decline. Dental utilization (experiencing a dental visit within the past 12 months) remained unchanged between 1988–1994 and 1999–2004 for youths, adolescents, and seniors;

According to the World Health Organization the dental caries is still a major public health problem in most industrialized countries, affecting 60–90% of schoolchildren and the vast majority of adults. It is also a most prevalent oral disease in several Asian and Latin American countries while it appears to be less common and less severe in most African countries. Currently, the disease level is high in the Americas but relatively low in Africa. In light of changing living conditions; however, it is expected that the incidence of dental caries will increase in the near future in many developing countries in Africa, particularly as a result of

growing consumption of sugars and inadequate exposure to fluorides (Petersen, 2003).

Whelton estimated that changes in the progression of caries have been problematic due to the shortage of longitudinal data in the literature for children, adolescents, and young and older adults. The cohort effect, combined with sampling effects and diagnostic differences,

programs increased from 13% to 53% (Tomar & Reeves, 2009).

however, dental utilization declined for most adults (Dye, et al., 2007).

fermenting carbohydrates causes the decrease in pH, with the subsequent loss of tooth minerals. The preventive measures include: diet and plaque control (mechanical and chemical methods), use of fluorides (systemic and topical), pit and fissure sealants (Harris & García-Godoy, 1999; Featherstone, 2000; Axelsson, 2000, 2004; Gussy, et al., 2006). Furthermore, strategies to control the disease through risk assessment have been developed, which have also been extensively investigated (Vanobbergen, et al., 2001; Pearce, et al., 2002; Bratthall & Hänsel Petersson, 2005; Featherstone, et al., 2007; Ramos-Gomez, et al., 2010; Gao, et al., 2010). On the other hand, the advance of technology has also developed tools for the proper diagnosis of the lesion incipient such as DIAGNOdent and QLF (Stookey, 2004; Berg, 2007; Tranæus, et al., 2007) as well as the need to detect in epidemiological studies noncavitated lesions (Ismail, et al., 2007). In the treatment of lesion there is a large amount of literature, resources and works focused on prevention of the formation of cavities. Despite all the existing measures for caries control there are no populations free of dental caries in the world.
