The last 50 years have witnessed an unbelievable amount of change in restorative dentistry. The evolution of materials and techniques has been so enormous that it has become virtually impractical for the clinician to keep abreast. An area of major change has been the ceramic restoration. The first break through came about with the introduction of the porcelain-fused-to-metal restoration. The ability to fire and fuse porcelain against gold alloy or base metals considerably extended the use of ceramic materials. Suddenly it was possible not only to generate single units of porcelain for anterior and posterior teeth but also to fabricate extended partial dentures. It is important to note that ceramic veneering of metal crowns or copings resulted in changes not only to the ceramic material but also to the casting alloys themselves. By using metal substrates with a higher casting temperature and a ceramic material with a lower fusion range, highly esthetic and durable restorations could be developed. This method of restoring missing teeth continues to play a very important role in the field of prosthodontics.

Remineralization is increasingly accepted as a viable non-invasive approach for restoring carious teeth, at least during the earlier stages of the caries process. According to the principles of minimal intervention dentistry, optimal non-invasive strategies are preferred for treatment of early enamel lesions. This study was designed to investigate the remineralising efficacy of casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate on early enamel lesions using energy dispersive x-ray analysis for quantitative assessment and scanning electron microscope for morphological changes. It can be inferred from the study that casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate paste significantly remineralises the early enamel lesions substantially .This could be attributed to the diffusion of calcium and phosphate minerals into the surface with the aid of saliva as the transport medium. This book gives an overview of how we can measure the amount of mineral loss or gain quantitatively along with the morphological changes.

In the past caries diagnosis and treatment was limited to detection and restoration of cavitated lesions. This drill and fill method failed to detect the underlying etiologic factor. Preventive programs should be instituted by analyzing the caries risk of the patient and providing a customized program to suit the need of patient. Regular monitoring and appropriate intervention are critical for changing the oral environment from one of hostility to one directed towards repair and stability. This book gives an overview on need for prevention, various modes of caries prevention and recent advances in caries prevention including the role of herbs in caries prevention.