What is a carious lesion?

Carious lesions where there is a visible macroscopic breakdown in the tooth surface (that is, a visible ‘hole’) and the area may have softened walls or floor. Dental caries (dental decay, tooth decay or ‘cavities’)

What are the zones of dentinal caries?

From the outer to the inner dentin layers, two carious zones are found: 1) the body of the lesion (25-50 % porosity) located approximately 15 to 30 m beneath the overlying intact enamel surface zone (1 to < 5% pore volume) forming the bulk of the decay, and 2) the translucent zone (with a loss of about 1-2 % mineral).

What is the configuration of carious lesion in enamel?

The initial stages of the carious lesion are characterized by a partial dissolution of the tissue, leaving a 2-μm to 50-μm thick mineralized surface layer and a subsurface lesion with a mineral loss of 30% to 50% extending into enamel and dentin.

What are the 4 Zones found in early enamel caries lesion?

The small enamel caries is placed under a well-mineralized surface layer, and has four histological zones: the translucent zone, the dark zone, the body of the lesion and the surface zone, described for the first time by L. M. Silverstone [7,8,10].

What is the first stage of a carious lesion?

The first stage in demineralization of enamel is called the incipient lesion or “white spot” (Figure 1). This beginning carious lesion can be reversed with the daily use of the fluoride ions, persistent oral hygiene care to reduce plaque that harbors cariogenic bacteria, and a reduction of refined carbohydrates.

How do you fix an incipient lesion?

For an extra boost to heal incipient decay, your dentist may suggest topical treatments of acidulated phosphate fluoride gel or varnishes. Sealants. Sealants are applied to the chewing surface of molars to keep food and bacteria out of the deep grooves, while also allowing remineralization to take place.

What is dentinal sclerosis?

Dentinal sclerosis or transparent dentin sclerosis of primary dentin is a change in the structure of teeth characterized by calcification of dentinal tubules. It can occur as a result of injury to dentin by caries or abrasion, or as part of the normal aging process.

What is a smooth surface lesion?

Smooth surface caries occurs where there is no pit, groove, or other fault on a tooth. It occurs in areas where bacterial plaque collects, such as between teeth, along the gumline, and in difficult-to-clean areas.

What is enamel hypoplasia?

Enamel hypoplasia is a developmental defect that results in inadequate enamel. It can affect both baby teeth and permanent teeth. In severe cases, no enamel forms on the teeth, and in standard cases, the tooth enamel is thin and weak.

What is mottled enamel?

Mottled enamel is a condition in which the enamel of the teeth appears a flat, opaque white, may be stained yellow, brown or black, and in addition may have a corroded surface. Histologically, mottled enamel may be distinguished by the absence of cementing substance between the enamel rods.

What is a very small early carious lesion called?

Where are the carious zones in enamel and dentin?

From the outer to the inner dentin layers, two carious zones are found: 1) the body of the lesion (25-50 % porosity) located approximately 15 to 30 m beneath the overlying intact enamel surface zone (1 to < 5% pore volume) forming the bulk of the decay, and 2) the translucent zone (with a loss of about 1-2 % mineral).

How are the 4 zones of dentin determined?

Caries Detector staining reveals 4 zones in dentin containing caries lesions, but characteristics of each zone are not well-defined. We therefore investigated the physical and microstructural properties of carious dentin in the 4 different zones to determine important differences revealed by Caries Detector staining.

How does carious disease affect enamel and dentin?

After an initial lesion (white spot), the carious disease expands throughout the whole enamel thickness. Afterward, the carious lesion reaches the dentino-enamel junction and penetrates into dentin, crossing the mantle dentin, and then infiltrating the outer part of circumpulpal dentin.

What are the non apatitic phases of Carious dentin?

Non-apatitic phases were detected in arrested carious dentin, characterized as weddellite, whewellite, calcite, brushite, whitloockite and octocalcium phosphate. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cysteine cathepsins are endopeptidases degrading all extracellular components during caries degradation.