Primary, secondary and tertiary treatment of dental caries: a 20-year case report.
BACKGROUND
This case report follows the 20-year clinical treatment of a patient at high risk of developing dental caries. The author describes the treatment of the primary and permanent dentitions.


METHODS
The author describes the use of primary, secondary and tertiary measures to treat caries in a high-risk patient. He emphasizes the need for long-term care to monitor disease activity and describes the use of in-office tests for estimating Streptococcus mutans levels. This case illustrates the episodic nature of the caries process in which caries activity is related to risk factors, and the treatment regimen varies from tooth to tooth.


CONCLUSIONS
This case report documents the use of the medical paradigm in the treatment of dental caries, as well as the surgical paradigm as an important component of treatment.
Whitaker
Eugene J
EJ
Department of Restorative Dentistry, Temple University School of Dentistry, 3223 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa 19140, USA. gwhitaker@dental.temple.edu
D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005459:Fluorides