Intro to Cariology

DMD 3 Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental cariology terms, definitions, and treatment concepts

Cariology

Branch of dentistry focused on the study, prevention, and management of dental caries.

Dental caries

Biofilm-mediated, diet-modulated, multifactorial, non-communicable, dynamic disease causing net mineral loss of dental hard tissues.

Caries diagnosis

Clinical judgment integrating all available information to decide whether disease is present and how it should be managed.

Main purpose of caries diagnosis?

Achieve best health outcome for the patient by selecting the best management

Caries activity

Concept describing the current mineral balance of a lesion—net loss, gain, or stasis—over time.

Active caries

Lesion undergoing initiation or progression with net mineral loss.

Inactive caries

Arrested or regressing lesion with no current net mineral loss.

Dental biofilm

Consortium/community of microorganisms embedded in an extracellular matrix that adheres to tooth surfaces.

Dental plaque

Clinical term commonly used for dental biofilm.

Dental plaque turns to?

→ calcular deposits

Demineralization

Biofilm-mediated loss of tooth minerals due to acids (as opposed to erosion from non-biofilm acids).

Demineralization in caries is biofilm-mediated or acid?

caries → biofilm-mediated

Demineralization in erosion is biofilm-mediated or acid?

erosion → acid

Remineralization

Net mineral gain in previously demineralized tooth tissue.

Do what to remineralize?

• take food with calcium and phosphate

• avoid sugar and acid

• use fluoride toothpaste

• use remineralizing products/toothpaste

Cariogenic

Describes substrates or microorganisms capable of promoting dental caries.

Cariogenicity

Degree to which a substrate or microorganism can promote dental caries; potential.

Cariostatic

Describes substances or procedures capable of arresting dental caries.

Caries risk

Probability that caries lesions will appear or progress if conditions remain unchanged over a stated period.

What are some risks for caries?

• visible plaque

• inadequate saliva

• acidic

• deeps, pits, and fissures

Modifiable risk factor

Determinant that can be altered by intervention, thereby lowering caries risk.

Examples of modifiable risk factor

hygiene, appliances, dry mouth

Caries risk management

Measures taken to lower an individual’s or population’s caries risk.

Caries lesion? how is it categorized?

Clinical sign of caries categorized by location, severity, depth, and activity status.

Caries lesion detection

Identification of caries signs clinically or with supplementary tools at various thresholds.

Caries lesion detection can be through?

clinically, radiograph, histology, microscopy

Initial caries lesion

Non-cavitated lesion; indicates severity stage, not necessarily early age or activity.

White spot lesion

Popular term for non-cavitated lesion describing its appearance; does not indicate activity and can be confused with other conditions.

White spot can be mistaken as?

fluorosis

Sound enamel / dentin

Tooth structure without clinically detectable changes in translucency, color, or texture.

Primary caries

Lesion on a previously sound tooth surface.

Secondary (recurrent) caries

Lesion adjacent to an existing restoration.

Residual caries

Demineralized carious tissue intentionally left in place before placing a restoration.

Rampant caries

Historic term for numerous lesions in the same patient, often linked to early childhood or radiation caries.

Early childhood caries

One or more decayed, missing (due to caries), or filled surfaces in any primary tooth of a child under 6 years.

Caries lesion transition

Change in lesion severity or activity in response to environmental or therapeutic changes.

Tactile assessment

Atraumatic manual (instrument) evaluation of lesion surface integrity and texture; distinct from outdated ‘catching probe’ method.

Radiographic detection

Identifying radiolucencies interpreted as caries on dental radiographs; black.

Operative (restorative) caries treatment

Surgical placement of a restoration to control caries, aid plaque control, and restore form/function.

Non-operative caries treatment

Non-surgical measures to prevent or slow lesion initiation/progression—e.g., fluoride toothpaste, diet change, oral hygiene.

Topical fluorides

Locally applied fluoride products (toothpastes, rinses, varnishes, etc.), self- or professionally applied.

Systemic fluorides

Ingested fluoride sources such as fluoridated water or salt; act mainly by topical effect when in contact with teeth.

Minimal intervention dentistry

Holistic philosophy emphasizing early detection, non-operative care, and minimal invasive restoration to preserve tissue.

Preventive sealant / sealing

Placement of a thin barrier (resin or glass ionomer) over sound pits and fissures to prevent lesion initiation.

Caries infiltration

Micro-invasive technique filling pores of a non-cavitated lesion with low-viscosity resin after acid etching.

Caries infiltration uses what acid?

hydrochloric acid

Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART)

Tissue-saving approach using hand instruments to remove decay and restore with high-viscosity glass ionomer; no electric/rotary equipment needed and running water

Caries removal

Extraction of carious tissue using burs, hand excavators, or other methods.

Complete caries removal

Excavation to hard dentine throughout a cavity; no longer recommended.

Partial caries removal

Selective removal: hard dentine at periphery, soft dentine left on pulpal wall to avoid pulp exposure.

Selective caries removal to firm/leathery dentin

Excavation until dentin feels firm/leathery (resistant to hand excavation) on pulpal and peripheral walls.

Stepwise caries removal

Two-stage excavation where partial removal is followed later by further removal to firm dentine, promoting dentine mineral deposition. Each step with time interval.