Dental caries: what is it? - Terminology

20 important questions on Dental caries: what is it? - Terminology

In which two ways can caries lesions be classified?

According to their anatomical site and according to their activity

Where do smooth surface lesions may start?

On enamel (enamal caries) or on the exposed root cementum and dentin (root caries)

Where is primary caries used for?

Used to differentiate lesions on natural, intact tooth surfaces
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What is recurrent or secondary caries used for?

Lesion that develop adjacent to a filling

What is residual caries?

Demineralized tissue that has been left behind before a filling is placed

What is a important classification regarding a lesion?

If the lesion is cavitated or noncavitated

Why is the classification of caries lesions according to their activity important?

It's a concept that impinges directly on management

What would be described as an active caries lesion?

A lesion considered to be progressing (you anticipate that the lesion would have developed further at a subsequent examination if not interfered with)

Of which is the distinction between active/nonactive based?

On a judgement of the features of the lesion in question in combination with an assessment of the oral health status of the patient

What are arrested caries lesions or inactive caries lesions?

A lesion that may have formed years previously and then stopped further progression

What are other terms used for arrested caries?

Remineralized or chronic lesions


Because the distinction between active and inactive/arrested lesions may not be straightforward, there are more terms to subscribe it; which?

A lesion (or part) that is rapidly progressing, slowly progressing or not progressing at all

On which does it depends how fast a lesion is progressing?

On the ecological balance in the biofilm covering the site and the environmental challenge

How is the first sign of a carious lesion on enamel that can be detected with the naked eye called?

A white spot lesion

How is a white spot lesion also called? Why?

An early, initial or incipient lesion. Meant to say something about the stage of lesion development

What is rampant caries mean?

It's the name given to multiple active carious lesions occuring in the same patient

How can the rampant caries be classified?

According to the assumed causality

What are some examples of causalities with rampant caries?

Bottle or nursing caries, early childhood caries (ECC) when observed in children, and baker's caries, radiation caries and drug-induced caries when seen in adults

When is the term 'hidden caries' used?

To describe lesions in dentin that are missed on a visual examination but are large enough and demineralized enough to be detected radiographically

What does it depends on if a lesion is actually hidden from vision?

How carefully the area has been cleaned and dried and whether an appropriate clinical examination has been performed

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