Dental Caries – Disturbed Balance of the Risk Factors

Dental caries is a process developing as a result of the disturbed balance between the factors comprising the oral environment. It is the aim of this research to determine the correlation between the risk and protective factors in the dental caries in children in our country. Based on the model of Fetherstone, the creator of the concept of balanced caries, a diagram was built by us showing the balance between the active factors in the oral environment of the examined children. The protective factors that were found to effect a decrease in the risk of development of dental caries were not strongly manifested and were only active in a very small, sometimes even insignificant, part of the children. The risk factors found to be active in the group proved to be much more powerful. The occurrence of risk factors was proven in a major part of the children. These factors represent a serious risk provoking the development of a caries process. The combined action of the two types of factors tips the balance towards a development of the caries process. Carbohydrate nutrition, the intermediate intake of carbohydrates, sweetened beverages and bad oral hygiene are the strongest risk factors for the children.