Alternative methods in the treatment of white spot lesions

Abstract

Dental caries are considered to be one of the most most widespreaded diseases, affeecting 90% of world’s population. Caries can be classified according to their clinical appearance into non-cavitary lesions and cavitary lesions. In this article will detail the subject of non-cavitating carious lesions. White spot lesions appear as a result of enamel demineralization. Various risk factors such as acid-producing bacterias, fermentable carbohydrates, poor oral hygiene, reduced salivary volume and sugary diet, sustain the development of these early lesions. Dental white spot lesions occur due to enamel hypomineralization. Factors causing hypomineralization such as fluorosis, traumatic hypomineralization, molar-incisor hypomineralization, genetic defects, as well as environmental factors, must be considered during the differential diagnosis. Many technologies can be used to diagnose early caries, including traditional visual inspections, radiographs, transillumination methods, fluorescence methods, electrical conductivity, ultrasound methods and other recently developed technologies. The goal of modern dentistry is to implemement a non-invasive management of carious lesions. This can be achived by both motivating and educating patients in order to have a correct oral hygiene.