Etiology: The Triad
What Causes Dental Caries?
- Caries is a multifactorial process affected by environmental, behavioral and host risk factors.
- Oral bacteria (Polymicrobial including mutans streptococci and lactobacilli) metabolize dietary carbohydrates into acids.
- Acid demineralizes tooth enamel.
- If the cycle of acid production and demineralization continues, the enamel will become weakened and break down into a cavity.
References
Pitts NB, Zero DT, Marsh PD, et al. Dental caries. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017; 3:17030.
Fisher-Owens SA, Gansky SA , Platt LJ et al. Influences on Children's Oral Health: A Conceptual Model. Pediatrics. 2007. Vol. 120(3): pp. e510 -e520.
Pierce A, Singh S, Lee J, Grant C, Cruz de Jesus V, Schroth RJ. The Burden of Early Childhood Caries in Canadian Children and Associated Risk Factors. Front Public Health. 2019 Nov 12;7: 328.
Colak H, Dülgergil CT, Dalli M, Hamidi MM. Early childhood caries update: A review of causes, diagnoses, and treatments. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2013;4(1):29-38.