This document discusses dental caries, including its classification, diagnosis, and treatment. It defines dental caries as a disease caused by bacteria that results in destruction of tooth structures. Caries is classified based on progression rate, involved site, severity, and treatment history. Diagnosis involves visual examination, tactile assessment, and diagnostic tests. Treatment includes non-surgical options like remineralization for early lesions and surgical restoration for more advanced cases. The goal is early detection and non-invasive treatment when possible to prevent tooth destruction.
1. Clinical Features &Clinical Features &
Diagnosis of Dental CariesDiagnosis of Dental Caries
INDIAN DENTAL
ACADEMY
Leader in continuing Dental
Education
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2. Current concepts of CariesCurrent concepts of Caries
• Dental caries is a specific infectious
microbiological disease of the teeth that
results in localized dissolution and
destruction of the calcified tissues.
Germfree animals do not get caries.
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3. Current concepts of caries etiologyCurrent concepts of caries etiology
Micro-
organisms
host
& tooth
Sub-
stratecaries
time
no
caries
no
caries
no
caries
no
caries
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5. Current concepts of CariesCurrent concepts of Caries
• The disease process begins with the
concentration of mutans streptococcus
at specified tooth surfaces and may
lead to white spot formation or even
cavitation.
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6. Current concepts of CariesCurrent concepts of Caries
The development of dental caries is
a dynamic process of demineralization
of the dental hard tissues
by the products of bacterial metabolism,
alternating with periods of remineralization.
Harris and Christen
《 Primary Preventive Dentistry 》 , 1995
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7. ClassificationClassification
according to the progression rate
according to the involving site
according to the severity
according to the previous treatment
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8. Classification
according to the progression rate
Acute caries
Rampant caries
Chronic caries
Arrested caries
Secondary caries
Active caries
Arrested caries
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9. Acute Caries
progress fast, often in
children and teenagers,
light colored cavity.
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10. Rampant Caries
Caries in a patient with
impaired salivary function
as result of radiation therapy
(Drs Jansma and Vissink)
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11. Rampant caries, many tooth involved at
same time with acute caries feature
often accompanied by systematic
disorder, such as Sjogren syndrome or
saliva reduction after radiation.
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17. Classification
according to the involving site
Pits & fissures caries
Smooth surface caries
Root surface caries
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18. The first and most susceptible site is
the developmental pits and fissures of enamel.
The shape of the pits and fissures contribute to
their high susceptibility to caries.
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19. How many types of
the fits & fissures in
your text book?
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21. The second site is on certain areas of
the smooth surface of enamel.
These include:
1. the areas of contacting proximal surface and
2. areas gingival to the height of contour of the
facial and lingual surface.
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22. Could you explain why
the proximal surfaces
are particularly
susceptible to caries?
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26. The third site where caries may attack
is the root surface.
The root surface is rougher than enamel and
readily allows plaque formation in the absence
of good oral hygiene.
The another
reason ?
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28. Classification
according to the Severity
Incipient caries
Moderate caries
Severe caries
Advanced caries
Superfacial caries
Middle caries
Deep caries
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33. A New Classification
Recommended by
Dr. Graham Mount & Dr. Rory Hume
In UCLA
http://www.dent.ucla.edu/pic/members/caries/index.html
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35. DiagnosisDiagnosis
Early detection of incipient caries and
limitation of caries activity prior to
significant tooth destruction are
primary goals of an effective diagnosis
and treatment program.
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38. Diagnostic Test
Only acceptable gold standard presently is
histological assessment.
Most diagnostic tests are limited to specific
applications.
Visual-tactile method remains the most
accurate and reproducible method of
diagnosis of dental caries.
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39. Visual Classifications
(occlusal surfaces)
0. No or slight changes in enamel
translucency after prolonged air-drying
1. Opacity (white or yellow) hardly visible on the
wet surface but distinctly visible after air-drying
2. Opacity (white or yellow) distinctly visible
without air-drying
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40. Visual Classifications (continued)
3. Localized enamel breakdown in opaque or
discoloured enamel and/or greyish
discolouration from the underlying
enamel
4. cavitation in opaque or discoloured
enamel exposing the dentine beneath
Ekstrand et al, 1997www.indiandentalacademy.com
44. Progression of Dental Caries
demineralization of enamel
surface
sub-surface enamel lesion
demineralization of dentine
cavitation of enamel surface
cavitation into the dentine
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50. Non-cavitated lesions deserve more attention
because they:
– are more prevalent than cavitated lesions in
economically developed countries
– can validly serve as indicators of caries
susceptibility
– appropriately should be treated nonsurgically
which is preferable.
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51. Two Difficulties
When to place an initial restoration?
Breakdown of the outer enamel is an
important clinical indicator of treatment
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52. Management of Fissured Surface
No Caries or Arrested
Caries in Fissures with
Susceptible Morphology
Enamel Demineralization
or Questionable Caries in
Dentin
Cavitation or
Caries in Dentin
Caries
Risk?
No treatment Sealant Enamel PRR Restoration
Caries
Risk?
Low High Low Open fissures
with round bur
High
Demineralization
involve
enamel dentin
---University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, UTHSCSA
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54. Two Difficulties
When to place an initial restoration?
Breakdown of the outer enamel is an
important clinical indicator of treatment
How to deal with severe caries?
Protection of dental pulp is the
primary goal
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56. Homework:
What’s the difference between
coronal caries and root caries?
Please make a comparison,
such as: surface tissue,
composition, etc.
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