Caries prophylaxis by obstruction of the invasion roads

Abstract

• 1.

  1. Whether or not the invasion roads may be blocked by calcium deposition from the saliva apparently depends on some unknown quality of the saliva.

• 2.

  2. People who are naturally caries immune are fortunate enough, apparently, to possess saliva of such quality that it has deposited calcium in these invasion roads.

• 3.

  3. When the dentinal tubules are obstructed by calcium deposition and, as a result, opaque, nonsensitive dentine is produced, caries resistance is established.

• 4.

  4. So now, when testing the ability of a chemical to produce caries resistance, we may use a different guide. Instead of employing the acidophilous count, we, may note the effectiveness of the chemical in question in desensitizing sensitive dentine.

• 5.

  5. A saliva test for the enzyme will then show the presence or absence of caries-immune conditions for any certain dentition.