Clinical appearance of caries: class 3

Question 1

If you have to probe a caries, at what degree do you use the explorer relative to the caries?

Answer 1

20-40 degree angle

Question 2

For active, cavitated lesions, what are the surface characteristics?

Answer 2

The cavity has exposed dentin and feels soft or leathery while probing

Question 3

For inactive, cavitated lesions, what are the surface characteristics?

Answer 3

The cavity also has exposed dentin (like the active lesions) but the caries is hard with probing due to remineralization

Question 4

What is the color for cavitated lesions?

Answer 4

Yellowish to brownish-black

Question 5

What are the demarcation characteristics of active, cavitated lesions?

Answer 5

Sharply demarcated

Question 6

What are the demarcations characteristics for inactive, cavitated lesions?

Answer 6

There are no sharp demarcations for the lesion margins and they blend into the adjacent normal surfaces

Question 7

What are the surface characteristics for active, non-cavitated lesions? How do they feel on probing?

Answer 7

“Chalky”/dull, and they feel rough with gentle probing

Question 8

What are the surface characteristics of inactive, non-cavitated lesions? What does it feel like with probing?

Answer 8

Glossy, feels smooth on probing

Question 9

What is the color for active, non-cavitated lesions?

Answer 9

Whitish to light brown

Question 10

What is the color for inactive, non-cavitated lesions?

Answer 10

Whitish to brown/black

Question 11

What are the demarcation characteristics for active, non-cavitated lesions? What do the characteristics correspond to?

Answer 11

They are most often sharply demarcated and correspond to plaque-retention sites

Question 12

What are the demarcation characteristics of inactive, non-cavitated lesions?

Answer 12

Well-demarcated, or with diffuse borders

Question 13

Is topical or systemic fluoride consumption more effective?

Answer 13

Topical

Question 14

What impacts to the enamel does fluorosis cause?

Answer 14

Hypo-mineralization and disruption

Question 15

How are teeth discolored from fluorosis?

Answer 15

Brown

Question 16

What are the main components of hydroxyapatite?

Answer 16

Calcium and phosphate

Question 17

What two minerals come out of the tooth during demineralization?

Answer 17

Calcium and phosphate

Question 18

In what year was there professional acceptance of fluoride sealants?

Answer 18

1972

Question 19

What year was the bitewing XR invented?

Answer 19

1925

Question 20

What are three reasons for not directly probing a caries with a sharp explorer?

Answer 20

Can worsen the caries, could transmit the caries between teeth, sensitivity of diagnosing caries with the probe is not 100%

Question 21

Who determined that probing was dangerous to teeth?

Answer 21

Ekstrand

Question 22

What is the feel of the base of the enamel when it is carious?

Answer 22

Soft

Question 23

What two types of caries are difficult to diagnose?

Answer 23

Incipient caries (normal surface texture, can’t detect by tactile probing) and caries at the Dentino-enamel junction (DEJ)

Question 24

What intervention is needed for arrested caries?

Answer 24

Wait and evaluate