How to measure the effects of fluoride treatments in clinical trials? Assessment: Modern versus traditional methods

In recent years there has been a pronounced change in the epidemiology and disease pattern of dental caries. In the current context, traditional metho ds of caries assessment, discriminating lesions at cavitation, are clinical ly inappropriate, and obsolete for research requiring detection of a very e arly phase of mineral loss. Modern prospective caries studies require sensi tive methods permitting the measurement of small changes in tooth mineral c ontent, and objective, quantitative measurements of such changes are now po ssible in a single caries lesion. For longitudinal studies there are noninv asive methods for assessment of new lesions as well as quantitative changes (progression or regression) in existing lesions. Among as vet unresolved i ssues are improved methods to assess the current activity of a lesion, meth ods for detection and quantification of secondary caries and root caries, c alibration of methodologies between different research institutes, and meth ods capable of assessment of the whole continuum in the development of a ca ries lesion, from initial loss of mineral to cavitation. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.