Clinical Radiology - Radiographic Interpretation of Dental Caries Flashcards
What % of adults experience dental caries before 30 years old?
90%
What is the prevalence of dental caries among youth aged 2-19 years old?
50%
Multifactorial disease involving many complex risk and protective factors
Dental caries
Carious lesions are characterized by localized ____________ of teeth by _____________ (acid demineralization)
destruction; microorganisms
What is the dynamic process that happens to your teeth?
Demineralization and remineralization
Which process?
Decrease in pH
Demineralization
Which process?
Dissolution of Ca and PO4
Demineralization
Continuum of net mineral loss
Dental caries
What changes occur from demineralization?
Changes in color/glossiness
Cavitation
Dentin
Pulp exposure
Destruction
Teeth (enamel, dentin, cementum) are
_________ (more/less) dense and absorb more X-rays
more
Gums, cheeks, pulp are _________ (more/less) dense and X-rays pass through more easily
less
What does demineralization result in?
Less tissue density, so less X-Rays are absorbed
What are the 5 sites of carious lesions?
Occlusal (pits and fissures)
Recurrent (secondary)
Smooth surface (facial/lingual)
Root (radicular)
Interproximal
Describe the progression of dental caries
Enamel - outer 1/2 to inner 1/2
Dentin - outer 1/3, middle 1/3, inner 1/3, to directly involving pulp
Initial demineralization starts on walls of pits and fissures, and are hard to detect clinically and radiographically
Early stages of occlusal caries
What is the first clinical sign of occlusal caries?
White spot
Incipient lesions (enamel only) are not detected radiographically. If detected radiographically, lesions are most likely in dentin
Initial stages of occlusal caries
Diffuse radiolucency below enamel-occlusal surface
Lesions in dentin of occlusal caries
As lesions progress, disruption of enamel may become evident
Lesions in dentin of occlusal caries
Advanced lesions may show direct pulp involvement
Lesions in dentin of occlusal caries
Caries adjacent to margins of restorations
Recurrent/secondary lesions
Diffuse radiolucency below restorations
Recurrent/secondary lesions
Usually close to gingival margin
Smooth surface caries (facial/lingual)
Sharply defined round or oval radiolucency
Smooth surface caries (facial/lingual)
Correlation w/ clinical examination is important
Smooth surface caries (facial/lingual)
Diffuse radiolucency below the CEJ, gingival recession
Root surface/radicular caries