Could Tooth Decay Become a Thing of the Past?

Tooth decay is the most chronic condition dentists treat with 91% of adults and 59% of children having had at least one cavity in a permanent tooth. In addition, it is estimated that almost 19% of children and nearly 32% of adults currently have one that is untreated. While they are very common, they may eventually become a thing of the past as researchers have developed a small molecule to prevent or stop tooth decay. It blocks the function of a virulence enzyme that is found in oral bacterium to potentially inhibit the destruction of the enamel.
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