Caries prevention in the dental office.

There are signs of a change towards a more preventive orientation in dentistry but progress is slow. Far more time is still spent on diagnosis and treatment of caries than on the prevention of it. Success has so far eluded us because of the lack of public and professional compliance with available caries preventive options. This review has taken for granted those caries preventive measures which should be an integral part of dental treatment, including the correct choice and handling of dental materials. With dedication to a preventive philosophy and pragmatic use of listed caries preventive technologies, the dental practitioner should now exploit to the fullest extent his unique opportunity to provide necessary caries preventive services and establish optimal dental health behaviour in his patients.