抄録
This article aims to clarify the definition of dental caries as an infectious, communicable, multifactorial disease and to discuss the ways of secondary prevention for a high-risk practice.
Concerning the clinic biological features of mutans streptococci, a preliminary preventive method against dental caries for a large group does not seem effective in preventing dental caries for a high-risk practice. Thus, it requires certain techniques to remove the biofilm formed by mutans streptococci.
This article features the background of neglected public health in Japan, the historical survey of dental caries, infections of dental caries, understanding of indigenous oral bacteria (S. mitis, S. oralis, S. salivarius) and oral bacterial ecology, and the mutans streptococci removal theory established by the author and colleagues with the results of its practice.
