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?
Do dental caries progress fast or slow?
What are the prerequisites to dental caries?
Plaque
Fermentable carbohydrates
Susceptible tooth surface
Tooth
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What are risk factors that directly contribute to caries development?
2. Time
3. Bacteria in biofilm
4. Diet (amount, composition, frequency)
What are oral environmental factors that can contribute to caries development?
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?
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?
What is needed for good caries diagnosis?
Good lighting
Blunt probe
What are visual cues to look out for clinically and raidographically in terms of caries?
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?
Active (soft upon probing, yellow or brown)
Inactive (hard black region = arrested decay)
Into dentine
What is a caries risk assessment (CRA)?
How should a caries risk assessment (CRA) be carried out?
What is the caries risk assessment tool?
List the biological and environmental factors that can progress caries development
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?
Antibacterial
Flouride
Effective diet
What are the risk factors of caries?
Absence of saliva
Dietary habits (poor)
What are the disease indications of caries?
Restorations (less than 3 years)
Enamel lesions
Cavities/dentine
What do present caries indicators put a patient under?
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