Diagnosis of caries disease: the new technologies are essential for clinical practice?

Abstract

Although the prevalence of caries is still high in many countries and specific populations, it has been continuously dwindling worldwide in the last thirty years, especially among youngsters. This change in the epidemiologic pattern of caries distribution and presentation points to the option of restorative techniques with minimum dental tissue invasion. The professional should be aware of these auxiliary methods capable of detecting caries manifestations in their subclinical stage, some of which were historically neglected. The aim of this study is to present and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of some new auxiliary methods in caries diagnosis, comparing with each other and with traditional methods.