In This Issue: Enamel Caries and Dentin Caries by Trisha O'Hehir, RDH, MS Hygienetown Editorial Director


Enamel Caries and Dentin Caries

by Trisha O'Hehir, RDH, MS
Hygienetown Editorial Director


When I was a child, going to the dentist was a scary and often painful experience. It was never a question of “did I have a cavity?” It was always “how many cavities did I have?” Entering the dental hygiene field I soon learned that dental disease was completely preventable. The goal is preventing the very first lesion – and keeping the mouth healthy for a lifetime is the expectation. This was a revelation to me as my entire family suffered from dental disease.

Now, so many decades later, it’s surprising to me that the very idea that dental disease is preventable is not widely known. It’s actually a well-kept secret. Dentists and hygienists know intellectually that dental disease is preventable, but why doesn’t the general public know this?

I’ve been having fun lately asking people I meet if they believe tooth decay is preventable. It is surprising to learn that most people believe that dental disease is inevitable. They have fillings, their parents had fillings and also lost teeth, so they fully expect their children to have the same.

Statistics tell us that caries rates are higher among those at low socioeconomic levels. However, even when I ask highly educated, financially successful people, they don’t believe dental disease is preventable. They believe that dental disease is inevitable. Ask your patients, family and friends if they believe tooth decay is inevitable. See what answers you get.

Understanding the differences between caries in enamel and caries in dentin provide an opportunity to look at prevention today and make changes for the future. Perhaps one day in the not-too-distant future, everyone will know that dental disease is preventable and that new approaches and technologies are available today to make it a reality

Inside This Issue
2    Perio Reports
6    Profile in Oral Health: Understanding the Caries Process
      Enamel Caries vs. Dentin Caries
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