Caries risk assessment and caries diagnosis

18 important questions on Caries risk assessment and caries diagnosis

How can the progression of dental caries be limited?

Since it is rarely self-limiting, it requires regular disturbance of dental plaque on the site

Do dental caries progress fast or slow?

Slow progression

What are the prerequisites to dental caries?

Biofilm
Plaque
Fermentable carbohydrates
Susceptible tooth surface
Tooth
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What are risk factors that directly contribute to caries development?

1. Tooth
2. Time
3. Bacteria in biofilm
4. Diet (amount, composition, frequency)

What are oral environmental factors that can contribute to caries development?

1. Saliva (buffer capacity, composition, flow rate)
2. Protein
3. Sugars (clearance rate, frequency)
4. Calcium and phosphate
5. Plaque pH
6. Microbial species
7. Chewing gum
8. Flouride
9. Dental sealants
10. Antibacterial agents   

What are personal factors that can contribute to caries development?

1. Sociodemographic status
2. Income
3. Dental insurance coverage
4. Knowledge
5. Attitudes
6. Oral health literacy
7. Behaviour (oral hygiene, snacking)
8. Education

How do personal factors, oral environmental factors, and factors that directly contribute to caries development interplay?

Personal factors (outermost circle) contribute to oral environmental factors (middle circle), which in turn contribute to direct factors of caries development (innermost circle).

What is needed for good caries diagnosis?

Dry surface
Good lighting
Blunt probe   

What are visual cues to look out for clinically and raidographically in terms of caries?

Clinically
1. Colour
2. Texture
Radiographically
1. Radiolucency (darker on x-ray image)  

What are four characteristic of a tooth that have to be considered to confirm caries?

Cavitated
Active (soft upon probing, yellow or brown)
Inactive (hard black region = arrested decay)
Into dentine

What is a caries risk assessment (CRA)?

An assessment of the risk of developing new lesions and present risk factors, determining what type of treatment is needed and the frequency of recall.

How should a caries risk assessment (CRA) be carried out?

For both adults and children, CRA should be patient centred, empowering the patient to avoid future operative treatment and reducing future tooth loss.

What is the caries risk assessment tool?

CAMBRA = Caries Management by Risk Assessment

List the biological and environmental factors that can progress caries development

Plaque
Frequent snacking
Hyposalivatory medications
Reduced salivary flow
Deep pits and fissures
Recreational drug use
Exposed root surface
Orthodontic appliances    

What are the protective factors against caries?

Saliva and sealant
Antibacterial
Flouride
Effective diet

What are the risk factors of caries?

Bad bacteria
Absence of saliva
Dietary habits (poor) 

What are the disease indications of caries?

White spots
Restorations (less than 3 years)
Enamel lesions
Cavities/dentine  

What do present caries indicators put a patient under?

Patient is put under high caries risk category if they have indicators of caries

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