Caries is a disease process of digestion, which means it affects all of us at some point in life, and children are more susceptible to the caries disease process. Biofilms are well known to be the etiologic agent behind demineralizing tooth tissues. Successful management of biofilms and noninvasive tooth preserving techniques should be the focus of pediatric oral health in 2016. Successful forward thinking practitioners will look for ways to perform simple chair side, highly effective, noninvasive procedures that target the etiology of caries and cavities. Changing the procedures in this fashion will increase positive outcomes for patients, improve the treatment experience of patients and reduce the total cost of care.

Upon completion of this CE webinar, the attendee will
• understand that caries is a surface biofilm disease unable to be effectively managed with surgical dentistry alone
• understand the caries process is a dynamic process that begins and ends on the surface of the tooth, wherever that surface might be
• be able to identify that glass ionomers are suitable restorative materials for cavities in pediatric patients
• be able to manage this disease better with a vision of using different restoration materials for different circumstances and that restorations should be a part of preventive dentistry   ( disclaimer, bio and commercial disclosure )