The effect of a low dose of glucocorticoids on dentin formation and progression of dental caries was studied in young rats. The animals were inoculated in the mouth withStreptococcus sobrinusand fed ad libitum a high-sucrose, a high-starch, or a reference diet. The cortisone or placebo pellet was implanted subcutaneously in the back of the necks of the animals. After a 6-week experimental period the areas of dentin formation and dentinal caries were quantified planimetrically. Schiff s staining was used to classify caries. Cortisone reduced the dentin formation both in high-starch and reference diets, but it did not further affect the reducing effect of the high-sucrose diet on dentin formation. Cortisone did not affect the number or severity of dentinal carious lesions.