What is a dental carious lesion?

What is a dental carious lesion?

Carious lesions where there is a visible macroscopic breakdown in the tooth surface (that is, a visible ‘hole’) and the area may have softened walls or floor. Dental caries (dental decay, tooth decay or ‘cavities’)

Is a carious lesion a cavity?

The earliest sign of a new carious lesion is the appearance of a chalky white spot on the surface of the tooth, indicating an area of demineralization of enamel. This is referred to as a white spot lesion, As the lesion continues to demineralize, it can turn brown but will eventually turn into a cavitation (“cavity”).

How do carious lesions develop?

Over time, the acids in the dental plaque may demineralize enamel and dentin in the fissures and the smooth surfaces of the tooth. The earliest visual sign of dental caries is the so-called white spot lesion. If demineralization continues, the surfaces of the white spot will cavitate, resulting in a cavity.

What is early carious lesion?

At the early stages, caries lesion is non-cavitated (Figure 1 and Figure 2). It is macroscopically intact and is commonly referred to as an “incipient” or “white-spot” lesion.

What carries is the first stage of a carious lesion?

The term “overt or frank” caries is used when it reaches the DEJ. A carious lesion develops in three stages of demineralization. The first stage in demineralization of enamel is called the incipient lesion or “white spot” (Figure 1).

How do you prevent carious lesions?

Four main preventive strategies have been developed: fluorides administration, fissure sealing, dietary choice, and plaque control. Caries is a dynamic and reversible process. The initial demineralization step occurs when plaque acids on the tooth surface dissolve calcium and phosphate ions from the hydroxyapatite.

Should we probe an open carious lesion?

Until the time comes that facts emerge from acceptable long-term clinical trials, dentists should feel comfortable using the dental explorer to probe suspected carious lesions.

How is occlusal caries diagnosed?

The sensitivity of visual inspection can be augmented with radiography. Findings on bite-wing radiographs are useful indicators of dentinal decay on occlusal surfaces, and it is well recognized that the prevalence of occlusal caries may be underestimated without such imaging.

What are the 4 requirements for carious lesion development?

In order for dental caries to develop, four interrelated factors must occur:

• the patient’s (host) diet must consist of repeated digestion of refined carbohydrates,
• the host’s resistance to disease is decreased,
• the factor of time, and.
• there must be a specific bacteria (Streptococci or S.

How do you remove a deep Carie from your teeth?

A recent survey reported the majority of general dentists use a metal bur (69%) or hand excavator (66%) to remove deep caries, but some use ceramic (4%) and polymer (1%) burs. Polymer (or plastic) burs have a hardness that is lower than sound dentin, but harder than carious dentin.