Detection, Assessment, Diagnosis and Monitoring of Early Caries (Amaechi 7)

Question 1

The intellectual course that integrates information obtained by clinical examination, use of diagnostic aids, conversation with patient and the clinician’s biological knowledge of the disease

Answer 1

Diagnosis

Question 2

_______ implies an objective method of determining whether or not clinical signs of caries are present at one point in time

Answer 2

Caries detection

Question 3

To characterize or monitor how severe the lesion is once it has been detected

Answer 3

Caries Assessment

Question 4

Importance of Early Detection of Caries

1. Gives opportunity for ______.
2. For _____ purposes.

Answer 4

1. Early treatment

2. Medico-legal

Question 5

Conventional Caries Detection Methods

Answer 5

1. Visual (Visual-tactile)

2. Radiographic

Question 6

Problems with Visual Examination

Answer 6

1. Subjective
2. Non-quantitative
3. Low sensitivity

Question 7

Prerequisites for Visual Examination

Answer 7

1. Air syringe, mirror, and explorer
2. Good lighting
3. Clean tooth
4. Dry tooth
5. Magnification devices

Question 8

Consequences of Probing with Sharp Explorer in a Fissure

Answer 8

• The explorer tip can easily damage white spot lesions

- Explorers can give false positive impression

Question 9

Use sharp eyes, but ____ explorers.

Answer 9

Blunt

Question 10

• Clean debris from fissures, along gingival margins, and in interproximal spaces
• Confirm and assess cavitations
• “Feel” margins and defects
• “Feel” the hardness of root surface lesions
• “Feel” the texture (roughness) of white spot lesions

Answer 10

Appropriate Ways to Use the Explorer

Question 11

Clinical Criteria of Visual Examination

Answer 11

1. Appearance
2. Texture
3. Location
4. Distribution

Question 12

• Appearance: Opaque, chalky and dull surface when air-dried
• Texture: Feels rough when the tip of the probe is moved gently across the surface
• Staining: May be discolored by extrinsic stain
• Location: Located in plaque stagnation areas

Answer 12

Early Caries lesion

Question 13

• glossy surface when air-dried
• feels smooth when the tip of the probe is moved gently across the surface
• No extrinsic discoloration
• Located mainly in self-cleansing areas

Answer 13

Developmental defects

Question 14

Detection of caries in pit/fissure

Answer 14

1. Matt/chalky whitespot adjacent to pit/fissure

2. Underlying grey shadow adjacent or around the pit/fissure

Question 15

Detection of early root caries

Answer 15

• Clearly demarcated and characterized by discoloration (light /dark brown, black)
• The area has a matte (non-glossy) appearance
• A “leathery” or “soft” floor or base using the CPITN probe

Question 16

Clinically Non-cavitated Stage

Answer 16

No or loss of anatomical contour <0.5 mm in depth

Question 17

Clinically Cavitated Stage

Answer 17

Loss of anatomical contour ≥0.5 mm in depth

Question 18

Detection of Proximal early caries

Answer 18

1. Underlying shadow along the marginal ridge

2. Examine with Fiber-Optical Transillumination (FOTI)

Question 19

Clinical Criteria of Assessing Caries Activities

Answer 19

1. Translucency

2. Presence of Plaque

Question 20

_____ are semi-transparent appearance than active which is totally opaque

Answer 20

Inactive caries

Question 21

• shiny surface when air-dried

- feels rough or smooth when the tip of the probe is moved gently across the surface

Answer 21

Inactive caries

Question 22

• Chalky and dull surface when air-dried

- feels rough when the tip of the probe is moved gently across the surface

Answer 22

Active caries