Evolution of Ideas About the Etiology and Pathogenesis of the Carious Process

Abstract

This work is an overview of the evolution of views on the causes and mechanisms of dental caries. The article traces the path from the early ideas of ancient civilizations connecting caries with the general state of the body, to modern scientific theories emphasizing the role of plaque bacteria and the influence of diet on the emergence and progression of the carious process. Particular attention is paid to the key theories and concepts that have had the greatest impact on the evolution of the dental community’s views on the pathogenesis of tooth decay — such as Miller's chemical-parasitic theory, Entin’s physicochemical theory, Lukomsky’s biological theory, Sharpenak’s theory of the lack of proteins in enamel, Shatz and Martin’s proteolysis-chelation theory, Platonov’s trophoneurotic theory and Rybakov’s working theory of the pathogenesis of caries. The article emphasizes the complexity and multifactorial nature of the process of caries development, as well as the importance of understanding the mechanisms of its occurrence for the development of effective methods of prevention and treatment.

For citation: Shulenin DK, Vinogradov YA. Evolution of ideas about the etiology and pathogenesis of the carious process. USMU Medical Bulletin. 2025;10(1):e00137. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.52420/usmumb.10.1.e00137. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/LPPFHR.