What is the first stage of a carious lesion?
A carious lesion develops in three stages of demineralization. The first stage in demineralization of enamel is called the incipient lesion or “white spot” (Figure 1).
How does carious lesion formation happen?
Dental caries is a transmissible bacterial disease process caused by acids from bacterial metabolism diffusing into enamel and dentine and dissolving the mineral. The bacteria responsible produce organic acids as a by-product of their metabolism of fermentable carbohydrates.
What is carious process?
The caries process is a continuum resulting from many cycles of demineralization and remineralization. Demineralization begins at the atomic level at the crystal surface inside the enamel or dentine and can continue unless halted with the end-point being cavitation.
What are the two stage of demineralization?
Demineralization involves the use of both cation and anion resins to produce ‘deionized water’. This can be achieved by a two-stage process in which the raw water is first passed through a column containing a strong cation resin (H) form, and then through a strong anion resin (Type I or II).
What is incipient lesion?
What Is an Incipient Lesion? Repeated exposure to bacterial acids in your mouth eventually causes tooth enamel to demineralize, and these areas of early decay are called incipient lesions or caries.
How do you treat carious lesions?
Traditionally, all carious lesions have been treated by removing all demineralised (affected) and bacterially contaminated (infected) dentine and replacing it using restorations (based on, for example, amalgam or composite), commonly known as a ‘filling’.
What are carious lesions?
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’)
Is the carious lesion most commonly found in elderly patients?
Myth #1. The first myth is that children are at the greatest risk of tooth decay. Dental caries is the most common chronic disease of childhood,2,3 but older adults are at greater risk than children. Caries remains the most prevalent disease among older adults—affecting 93% of those age 65 or older.
How long does it take for demineralization to occur?
Months are usually involved. Summitt’s textbook of operative dentistry (the repair of teeth) states that it may take 4 to 5 years before the demineralization process has progressed through a tooth’s enamel.
What does carious lesion mean?
Can incipient decay be reversed?
According to Dr. Taylor, tooth decay is reversible, depending on how big the cavity is and how much it’s progressed through the enamel. You can reverse incipient lesions. This is a cavity in the very early stages.
What is carious lesion?
What is the main aim of restoration of carious lesion in Phase I therapy?
Reduce tissue removal treatment of carious lesions in both deciduous teeth and permanent teeth in order to save tooth substance, prolong the life of a tooth and reduce or avoid negative iatrogenic outcomes such as pain, anxiety and adjacent tooth damage.
What is incipient caries?
How are incipient lesions treated?
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 an incipient lesion?
What Is an Incipient Lesion? Repeated exposure to bacterial acids in your mouth eventually causes tooth enamel to demineralise, and these areas of early decay are called incipient lesions or caries.
How do I remove incipient caries?
Fluoride Treatment It is a mineral that helps replace the minerals lost during tooth decay. It’s usually found in water supplies and toothpaste, but to help incipient caries, your dentist may apply a topical treatment of fluoride to the affected areas.