[Diagnostic methods in restorative dentistry--clinical aids]. / Diagnostische Hilfsmittel in der Zahnerhaltung--Klinische Hilfsmittel.

Diagnostic methods in restorative dentistry are still based on history taking and clinical examinations. Clinical findings, however, reflect only processes in the microscopic range. The correlation of macroscopic symptoms and histological findings is indispensable. In dentistry, and especially in restorative dentistry, too, laboratory findings will assume more and more importance as already is the case in periodontology and cardiology.

[Preservation of teeth in elderly persons]. / Zahnerhaltung bei älteren Menschen.

Conservative dentistry by elder people has regard to the physiological changes during the function. There is no limitation of conservative dentistry conditional by the old age.

[Sugar and caries]. / Zucker und Karies.

Without acids there is no caries. Acids develop through the metabolic action of the ever-present bacteria in the oral cavity, for which action low-molecular carbohydrates are necessary. The organism is able to keep the enamel surface in a healthy balance, if there is sufficient time for remineralization, and if the saliva reaches the enamel surface. But there is a clear connection between sugar and caries. Even if 99% of the sugar contained in food goes directly to the gastro-intestinal-tract, and even if only 1% remains orally for acid development in plaque and for storage as an extra- and intracellular polysaccharide, this share could still lead to caries.

[Conservative dentistry in aged patients]. / Möglichkeiten der Zahnerhaltung beim älteren Patienten.

Aging is a physiologic process. There are basically no agedependent limits to conservative dentistry--neither in the treatment of caries nor in the field of endodontics or periodontics. The teeth and their supporting structures undergo changes in the course of a lifetime. This must be taken into consideration when deciding on the method to be applied in the treatment of diseases.