Our understanding of erosive tooth wear and its contributing factors has evolved considerably over the last decades. New terms have been continuously introduced, which frequently describe the same aspects of this condition, whereas other terms are being used inappropriately. This has led to unnecessary confusion and miscommunication between patients, professionals, and researchers. A group of 15 experts, selected by the European Organization for Caries Research (ORCA) and the Cariology Research Group of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), participated in a 2-day workshop to define the most commonly used terms in erosive tooth wear. A modified Delphi method was utilized to reach consensus. At least 80% agreement was achieved for all terms discussed and their definitions related to clinical conditions and processes, basic concepts, diagnosis, risk, and prevention and management of erosive tooth wear. Use of the terms agreed on will provide a better understanding of erosive tooth wear and intends to enable improved communication on this topic.

As dental caries prevalence is still high in many populations and groups of both children and adults worldwide, and as caries continues to be responsible for significant health, social and economic impacts, there is an urgent need for dental students to receive a systematic education in cariology based upon current best evidence. Although European curriculum guidelines for undergraduate students have been prepared in other dental fields over the last decade, none exist for cariology. Thus the European Organisation for Caries Research (ORCA) formed a task force to work with the Association of Dental Education in Europe (ADEE) on a European Core Curriculum in Cariology. In 2010, a workshop to develop such a curriculum was organised in Berlin, Germany, with 75 participants from 24 European and 3 North-South American countries. The Curriculum was debated by five pre-identified working groups: I The Knowledge Base; II Risk Assessment, Diagnosis and Synthesis; III Decision-making and Preventive Non-surgical Therapy; IV Decision-making and Surgical Therapy; and V Evidence-based Cariology in Clinical and Public Health Practice and then finalised jointly by the group chairs. According to this Curriculum, on graduation, a dentist must be competent at applying knowledge and understanding of the biological, medical, basic and applied clinical sciences in order to recognise caries and make decisions about its prevention and management in individuals and populations. This document, which presents several major and numerous supporting competences, does not confine itself to dental caries alone, but refers also to dental erosion/non-erosive wear and other dental hard tissue disorders.

The higher proportion of caries-associated bacteria on restored tissue indicates that the ecology on the surface of primary lesions differs from that on lesions next to composite, and that secondary caries next to composite may differ from the primary caries process.

This paper reviews the use of electrical measurements of caries, particularly in relation to caries clinical trials. Electrical measurements change as tooth tissue porosity alters in the caries process, but several other variables also have a significant effect on these electrical measurements and hence upon their diagnostic validity. Available electrical-method data, in the context of clinical trials, relate to the use of the Electronic Caries Monitor (ECM), which measures "bulk" resistance. The device is presently limited in scope to occlusal surfaces, and only limited ECM data from clinical trials are available. In the context of clinical trials, more work is needed to determine the potential role of electrical measurements. Such research will need to focus both on an understanding of those electrical parameters which are most valuable in identifying changes and stages in the caries process in individual teeth and also on identifying the extent of the effects of the variables affecting these measurements.