Root Caries Flashcards
What is the typical presentation of root caries? (5)
- no white spot
- tend to spread across tooth surface
- track along cemento-enamel junction
- root caries is dentinal caries
- tend to progress slowly
What are 6 oral factors that may make a patient more prone to root caries?
- xerostomia
- diet: frequent consumption of carbs
- lack of fluoride
- periodontal disease
- root surface irregularities
- age
What 3 indices can be used for root caries?
- DMFS
- RCI
- modified RCI: flawed but still considered useful
What are 6 social risk factors for root caries?
- living in a residential or nursing home
- social deprivation
- living in scotland or north of england
- infrequent dental attendance
- manual worker
- diet
What are 4 medical risk factors for root caries?
- physical handicap
- dependency on others
- dry mouth
- cariogenic medicines
What are 4 clinical signs of inactive root caries?
- well-defined
- dark brown or black colour
- hard on probing with moderate pressure
- usually plaque free
What are 3 clinical signs of active root caries?
- yellow, light brown
- soft or leathery on probing with light pressure
- covered by plaque
What is the treatment protocol for hard root caries?
no treatment
What is the treatment protocol for leathery to hard root caries?
topical fluoride
What is the treatment protocol for leathery, able to be kept plaque-free root caries?
debridement plus topical fluoride
What is the treatment protocol for extensive, leathery with loss of contour, soft, unable to keep plaque-free root caries?
debridement and restoration
What materials can be considered for restoration of root caries? (6)
- amalgam
- GI
- composite
- light cured GI
- compomer
- composite/GI laminate
What material should be considered for secondary root caries?
- fluoride containing GI
- resin modified GI cements
