Introduction to dental caries for first year dental students. 2007

1. Dental Caries
!
Ryan Bukhari

2. Over View
• Definition.
• Causes.
• Mechanism.
• Classification.
• Prevention.
• Diagnosis.
• Treatment.
• Conclusion.

3. What is Dental Caries?
• Definition.
• Destructive process.
• What could happen if it is not treated?
• pain, infection…
• How does it look like?
• Small chalky area –>large brown cavitation.

4. Causes
Carbohydrates
Tooth surface
Bacteria
Time

5. Mechanism
Metabolism
Acid
Drop in pH
Demineralization
Cavitation

6. Classification
Dental Caries
Location Rate of
Progression
Black
Pit & Fissure
Caries
Smooth
Surface
Caries
Acute
Incipient
Chronic
Recurrent
Caries
Class I Class II
Class VI
Class III Class IV
Class V

7. Pit & Fissure Caries
• What are pits and fissures?
– Anatomical landmark on a tooth.
• What is the pattern of the decay?
– Two triangles with conjoined bases.

8. Smooth-Surface Caries
Three types of smooth-surface caries:
I. Proximal (inter-proximal) caries.
II. Root caries.
III. The third type.
This radiograph shows
proximal caries.

9. Rate of Progression
• Acute. (fast with pain)
• Chronic. (slow without pain)
• Recurrent caries. (with previous history)
• Incipient. (without previous history)

10. Black Classification System
Black classification is based on the required treatment.
• Class I. (occlusal).
• Class II. (posterior proximal).
• Class III. (anterior proximal).
• Class IV. (incisal).
• Class V. (cervical).
• Class VI. (caries in cusps)

11. Prevention
• Personal oral hygiene care.
– Brushing, flossing & using mouth rinses.
• Professional oral hygiene care.
– Regularly dental examination.

12. Other Preventive Approach
• Minimizing snacks.
• Dairy products.
• Chewing sugar free gum.
• Fissure sealant.
• Application of fluoride.

13. Diagnosis
• The primary diagnosis.
– Light, dental mirror & explorer.
• Dental radiographs.

14. Treatment
• Small caries. (reminerlize lost structure)
• Large caries. (prevent further destruction)
Trays used for applying fluoride

15. Treatment
• Dental filling
• Crowns
• RCT
• Extraction

16. Conclusion
• Dental caries is considered as one of the
diseases of the human body which should be
treated.
!
• Frequent dental visit for routine dental check
up help prevent dental caries.