Biomarkers for Lifetime Caries-Free Status.

The purpose of this study was to address the hypothesis that extreme outcomes of dental caries, such as edentulism or prematurely losing permanent teeth are associated with genetic variation in enamel-formation genes. After scanning 6206 individuals, samples of 330 were selected for this study. Tested phenotypes included patients who were edentulous by age 30, patients with missing first molars by age 30, patients with missing second molars by age 30, and caries-free patients.

Measuring the Microscopic Structures of Human Dental Enamel Can Predict Caries Experience.

Objectives: The hierarchical structure of enamel gives insight on the properties of enamel and can influence its strength and ultimately caries experience. Currently, past caries experience is quantified using the decayed, missing, filled teeth/decayed, missing, filled surface (DMFT/DMFS for permanent teeth; dmft/dmfs for primary teeth), or international caries detection and assessment system (ICDAS) scores. By analyzing the structure of enamel, a new measurement can be utilized clinically to predict susceptibility to future caries experience based on a patient's individual's biomarkers.