Oratest:--a simple, chair-side caries activity test.

Caries activity tests are an essential part of any programme concerned with the study or treatment of dental caries. Most of the caries activity tests require expensive kits or specially prepared media or facilities for incubation which limits their use in clinical practice. The present study sample consisted of twenty five children with dental caries and twenty five controls, free of caries, gingivitis and other oral ailments. The test is simple and consists of rinsing the mouth with 10 ml of sterile milk, 3 ml of which is mixed with 0.12 ml of 0.1% methylene blue dye and observed for colour change. The present study demonstrated the potential uses of this test in a pediatric dental clinic setup.