CAMBRA stands for Caries Management By Risk Assessment.  Dental caries is the disease that can lead to cavities if left untreated. Tooth decay can be prevented and even reversed if treated early.  Cavities are the end result of acids produced by oral bacteria.  The acids remove minerals from our teeth, but these minerals can be replaced.  Given the right care, our teeth can repair themselves. Brushing and flossing alone is sometimes not enough to avoid decay.  Fillings and crowns repair the damage done by this infection, but do not stop the process that caused the damage.

The CAMBRA model for dental care involves assessing each patient's risk factors, determining the extent of their protective factors, and making recommendations to restore balance in the mouth.  The disease is then addressed, balance is restored, and improved health results. 

The CAMBRA model was pioneered at UCSF over 15 years ago, and is now being taught in the majority of US dental schools, and internationally as well.  Dr. Fernandez studied the CAMBRA philosophy under Dr. John Featherstone (former Dean of UCSF School of Dentistry),  Dr. Douglas Young, Dr. Brian Novy, Dr. Kim Kutsch, and other important researchers in this field of preventive dentistry.  Dr. Fernandez earned a CAMBRA certificate from UCSF in 2013, and attended the first National CAMBRA Coalition Meeting in Arizona in November 2015.  Dr. Fernandez has lectured on the CAMBRA system, and continues to work to make CAMBRA the standard of care in dentistry. 

For more information regarding CAMBRA, visit www.dentistry.ucsf.edu/research/CAMBRA