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. 2006 Jun 15;6 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S2.
doi: 10.1186/1472-6831-6-S1-S2.

The dental caries pandemic and disparities problem

B L Edelstein  1
Affiliations

The dental caries pandemic and disparities problem

B L Edelstein. BMC Oral Health. .

Abstract

Understanding caries etiology and distribution is central to understanding potential opportunities for and likely impact of new biotechnologies and biomaterials to reduce the caries burden worldwide. This review asserts the appropriateness of characterizing caries as a "pandemic" and considers static and temporal trend reports of worldwide caries distribution. Oral health disparities within and between countries are related to sugar consumption, fluoride usage, dental care, and social determinants of health. Findings of international and U.S. studies are considered in promoting World Health Organization's and others' recommendations for science-based preventive and disease management interventions at the individual, clinical, public health, and public policy levels.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Dental caries levels (DMFT) of 12-year-olds worldwide. World Health Organization [2].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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