Management of caries in Permanent teeth Flashcards
What is the key recommendation for Management of caries in permanent teeth according to SDCEP guidlines?
- Choose least invasive, most feasible management strategy
Taking into account; - Site and extent of lesion
- Risk of pain or infection
- Preservation of tooth structure and health of dental pulp
- Avoidance of treatment-induced anxiety
- Lifetime prognosis of tooth
- Orthodontic considerations
- Occlusal development
What teeth are most vulnerable to decay in childhood?
- Permanent molars
- Most commonly develops in pits and fissures and proximal surface below contact point
What percentage of children will be affected by MIH appox?
- 15%
- If first permanent molar assessed as having poor life-time prognosis (caries or MIH) and 2nd molar not erupted yet - in childs best interest to extract first perm and allow 2nd to erupt in place
What are the Key points when Managing caries in permanent teeth in children?
- Develop childs personal plan to prioritise keeping permanent teeth caries free
- As first and second molars have high index of suspicion for caries, examine thoroughly focusing on pits and fissures and proximal surfaces below contact points
- Establish what treatment options are appropriate and have child’s best interest at heart
- Avoid iatrogenic damage to proximal surfaces of adjacent tooth when preparing cavities
- For a dentinal lesion, choose technique that reduces likelihood of pulpal exposure and maintains structural integrity of tooth
- When caries or MIH involves first perm molars consider prognosis and planned loss
- If first perm molar requires restoration, consider temporising it until child’s cooperation sufficient for planned treatment
- Discuss potential management options with child and parent/carer
- Agree caries treatment plan
- Consent from child or parent/carer
- Carry out treatment
- When restoring ensure same high standard as adults for longevity and minimise treatment required at later date
- Dont leave infection intreated
- Dont leave caries in perm teeth unmamanged
What age can dental amalgam be justified to use on a child?
- 15years and above
- Unless exceptional circumstances can be justified
What to do with first permanent molars with MIH?
- If carious lesions not severe, not sensitive, don’t require restorations and unlikely to in future then provide enhanced prevention including fissure sealants and monitor
- If good quality enamel with small defect that require restoration, use adhesive materials (indirect restorations extending onto sound enamel have better longevity)
- If molars sensitive, use glass ionomer cement as fissure sealant
How do initial occlusal caries in permanent teeth present?
Visual diagnosis
- Teeth with noncavitated enamel carious lesions
- White spot lesions, discoloured or stained fissures
Radiographic diagnosis
- Lesion up to enamel-dentine junction or not visible
How to manage initial occlusal caries in permanent teeth?
- Resin fissure sealant (if early then caries unlikely to progress)
- Clinically review sealant for wear and check integrity at every recall visit with probe
- If worn top it up
- If not adherent to tooth, remove and replace
- If lesion progressed adopt alternative management
- Radiographically review depending on high or low caries risk
- If tooth only partially erupted or child’s cooperation insufficient for resin fissure sealant or restoration consider glass ionomer material as temp sealant or restoration
How do moderate occlusal dentinal caries present?
Visual diagnosis
- Teeth with enamel cavitation and dentine shadow
- Or cavity with visible dentine
Radiographic diagnosis
- Lesions visible within dentine and may extend to middle third of dentine
How to manage moderate occlusal dentinal caries?
- Selective caries removal or complete caries removal
- Seal remaining fissures
How do extensive occlusal dentinal caries present in permanent teeth?
Visual diagnosis
- Teeth with cavitation (may be extensive) with visible dentine or widespread dentinal shadow
Radiographic diagnosis
- Lesions will extend into inner third of dentine but should still be a clear band of dentine that separated pulp and carious lesion
What is the aim of extensive dentinal occlusal caries?
- To remove caries, avoiding pulpal exposure and provide long lasting restoration
How do you manage extensive occlusal dentinal caries?
- Carry out stepwise caries removal
- Temporise with obvious temporary material
- Restore with permanent restoration after 6-12months
- Seal remaining fissures
How do you avoid exposing dental pulp using a stepwise approach?
- Stepwise approach used where selective caries removal carried out first step
- After period long enough to allow reactionary dentine to be laid down by pulp in response to irritant stimulus of caries, the remaining decay removed
- Permanent restoration not provided at first stage as lack of evidence to support it and some concern that wet dentine does not provide sound base for permanent restoration
- Drying out of lesion may occur
- If caries extended to pulp, RCT required and long term prognosis of tooth should be considered when treatment planning
How do you managed permanent posterior teeth with proximal caries?
- Hard to diagnose visually and radiographic exam recommend at reg intervals based on caries risk assessment
- On visible surfaces may be early enamel changes with white spot lesion only detectable upon drying the enamel or more established white spot lesion visible when wet
- Orthodontic separators may be used to allow visualisation (need child to attend 5 days later)
- Early diagnosis of lesions before they cavitate may allow them to be managed without operative intervention
How to initial proximal caries present on permanent teeth?
Visual diagnosis
- Teeth with white spot lesions or shadowing.
- Enamel intact but this my be hard to detect visually
Radiographic diagnosis
- Caries may be visible in outer third of dentine
What is the aim of detecting initial proximal caries in permanent teeth?
- Use a preventative or minimally invasive approach to slow or arrest caries
- Reduce risk of permanent molar or premolar requiring multi-surface restoration