title: The caries balance: contributing factors and early detection.
abstract: The aim of this article is to present a brief overview of the dental caries process, in particular, the management of dental caries and the role of early detection methods in the clinical management of caries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences at University of California at San Francisco, 94143, USA. jdbf@itsa.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: John D B
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Featherstone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003732:Dental Caries Activity Tests; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005459:Fluorides