definition, factors for dental caries, studies, classification of caries, levels of prevention

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3. Contents
 Introduction
 Definition of Epidemiology and Dental Caries
 Caries in Prehistoric Man 3000-750 BC
 Global scenario and Indian scenario
 Epidemiological studies
 Theories of Caries Etiology
 Epidemiological factors of Dental Caries
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4. Contents
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 Classic Dietary Studies
 Classification of dental caries
 Reasons for caries decline and rise
 Levels of prevention of dental caries
 Conclusion
 References

5. INTRODUCTION 1,2
 The word caries is derived from Latin word meaning
“rot” or decay.
 Dental caries is an infectious microbiological disease that
results in localized dissolution and destruction of
calcified structures of the teeth.
 Dental caries may be considered as a disease of modern
civilization, since prehistoric man was rarely affected
from dental caries.
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6.  In 1980, Miller gave the chemoparasitic theory for dental caries.
Then, there was no reason to look beyond the oral cavity for the
causes of dental caries.
 Dental research since that day has provided so many factors
which seemed to influence the occurrence of caries. So, instead
of finding ‘a cause’ of dental caries, the concept of ‘multifactorial
disease’ become more acceptable.
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7. EPIDEMIOLOGY 1
“Epidemiology can be defined as the study of the distribution
and determinants of health related states or events in specified
population and the application of this study to control the
health problems.”
John Last 1988.
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8. DENTAL CARIES2
 Dental caries is defined as a irreversible, microbial disease of
the calcified tissues of the teeth, characterized by
demineralization of the inorganic portion and destruction of
the organic substance of the tooth, which often leads to
cavitations.
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9. Caries in Prehistoric Man 3000-750 BC3
 Since teeth can survive in dry burial sites for thousand of
years and since no caries like lesions have been produced in
cadavers, reliable data on occurrence of dental caries in
ancient population are available.
 There is no evidence of dental caries in the relatively few teeth
found in skull fragments of our earliest known direct
ancestors, the Pithecanthropus
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10.  Anthropologic studies of Von Lenhossek revealed that the
dolichocephalic skulls of men from preneolithic periods
(12,000BC) did not exhibit dental caries, but brachycephalic
skulls of the neolithic period (12,000-30,000 BC) contained
carious teeth.
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11. Global scenario1,3
 Dental caries is still a major health problem in most
industrialized countries, affecting 60-90% of school children &
vast majority of adults. . It is the most prevalent oral disease in
several Asian and Latin American countries, while it appears to
be less common and less severe in most African countries.
 The WHO records a Global DMFT of 1.61 for 12 year old in
2004, a reduction of 0.13 as compared to a DMFT of 1.74 in the
year 2001.
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12.  Various studies conducted in different countries at different
time periods have given evidence that a substantial decrease in
caries prevalence in the last decade has been found among
western countries whereas in case of developing and
underdeveloped countries, prevalence of caries seems to be
increasing.
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WHO Regions DMFT
AFRO 1.15
AMRO 2.79
EMRO 1.58
EURO 2.57
SEARO 1.12
WPRO 1.48
Global average (among 188
countries)
1.61

14. Indian scenario1,3
 WHO reported a DMFT score of 3.94 for India.
 In India, data from the National Oral health Survey (2002-
2003) states that in children aged 12 years, the caries
prevalence was 53.8% and the mean DMFT was 1.8 whereas
it was 80.2% and 5.4 in the 35-44 year age group. In the 65-74
year age group, the prevalence was 85% and mean DMFT was
14.9.
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15. Epidemiological studies1,4
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 Day and Tandon (1940) conducted a survey among 756
subjects aged between 5-18 years in Lahore, and the
point prevalence of caries was reported as 94.04%.
 Chaudhary and Chawla (1957) conducted a survey of
2900 school children of 5-16 years old in Lucknow.
They found the dmft as 11.1 and DMFT to 1.9.

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 Ludwig (1960) carried out a survey among school children and found
that children in the age group of 3-5 years had an average of 0.9 deft.
 Dorothy et al (1969) carried a survey of oral health of preschool
children in Israel and this revealed high caries rate among children and
attributed to increase in sugar consumption.
 Onisi and Shinohara (1976) in their survey of 1172 children in age
group of 13 years in Japan found that mean DMFT score 7.5, and this
was higher in female than in males.

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 Enwonwn (1981) noticed that with a rapid socioeconomic
development and drastic changes in traditional dietary habits,
dental caries, which was extremely low in the African
countries in the past, is now posing serious dental health
problems.
 A study conducted by Mahesh P. and Joseph T. in 5-12 years
school going children in Chennai city , according to this
dental caries correlated with malocclusion.

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 In 2007, a post-war survey conducted by Ahmed NAM,
Astrom AN and Bergen NS in12-year old school children
from Baghdad, Iraq. according to this the low prevalence of
caries among children by increasing awareness and promoting
oral health care strategies.

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 In 2015, the caries prevalence and experience among 5, 12
and 15 years age group children from all the reviewed articles
from 1999-2014 was 48.11%, 43.34% and 62.02%
respectively. Region wise distribution of dental caries in the
past 15 years (1999-2014) shows more prevalent in the
Northernern region among all the index age groups with
maximum prevalence (76.06 %) among 15 year age group. 5

20. Theories of Caries Etiology 2,4,6
The etiology of dental caries is a complex problem. There is no universally
accepted opinion of the etiology of dental caries.
A. Early theories of caries:-
 The legend of Worm:-
In the past, dental caries was thought to be caused by living worms inside the
tooth structure.
B. Endogenous theories:-
 Humoral theory-
According to which an imbalance between the humors of body caused tooth
decay.
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21.  Vital theory:-
According to which tooth decay originated from within the tooth itself,
like a bone gangrene.
C . Exogenous Theories:-
 Chemical (acid) theory:-
On the basis of findings of Robertson (1835), this theory proposed that
tooth decay was caused by the fermentation of food particles around
the teeth.
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22.  Parasitic (septic) theory:-
This was the first theory that related microorganisms with caries
on a causative basis (by ERDLE, 1843)Accordingly, it was
proposed that even though caries starts purely as a chemical
process but microorganisms continued the disintegration in
both enamel and dentin.
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 Miller's chemico-parasitic theory(the acidogenic theory):-
Proposed by Willoughby D Miller.
This theory is a blend of both chemical and parasitic theory
proposed earlier. According to this theory, dental caries is a
chemico-parasitic process consisting of 2 stages:
first, decalcification of enamel and dentin (preliminary stage)
second, dissolution of the softened residue (later stage)
and the acid causing primary decalcification is produced by
the fermentation of starches and sugar from the retained
corners of teeth.

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Hence Miller advocated an essential role of 3 factors in the caries
process: the oral microorganisms, the carbohydrate substrate, and the
acid. Even though, at that time, this theory couldn’t explain
1) predilection of specific sites on a tooth
2) initiation of smooth surface caries
3) why some populations are caries free
4) the phenomenon of arrested caries.
This theory is still considered as the backbone of current knowledge
and understanding of the etiology of dental caries.

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 The Proteolytic theory:-
By Gottlieb and Gottlieb. According to this theory, the organic or protein
elements of tooth (not the inorganic constituents of enamel ) are the initial
pathways of invasion by microorganisms; And, caries is essentially a proteolytic
process , in which the microorganisms invade the organic pathways and destroy
them while advancing through them by forming acids.
Hence certain structures of enamel having high organic material composition,
like enamel lamellae and enamel rod sheaths, could serve as a pathway for
microorganism invasion through the enamel .

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Drawbacks of this theory
1)It couldn’t provide sufficient evidences to support the claim that
the initial attack on enamel is proteolytic;
2)also experimental studies have shown the occurrence of caries
even in the absence of proteolytic microorganisms
However , this theory is still helpful in explaining the progression
of a more advanced carious lesion.

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 Proteolysis Chelation theory:-
 This theory proposed
by Schatz et al. implies a simultaneous microbial degradation of
the organic components (hence, proteolysis), and the dissolution
of the minerals of the tooth by the process of chelation.
 According to the proteolytic-chelation theory, dental caries
results from an initial bacterial and enzymatic proteolytic action
on the organic matter of enamel without preliminary
demineralization.

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Such action, the theory suggests, produces an initial caries
lesion and the release of a variety of complexing agents, such
as amino acids, polyphosphates and organic acids. The
complexing agents then dissolve the crystalline appetite.

29. Epidemiological factors of Dental
Caries
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 Dental caries is a multifactorial disease in which there is an
interaction between three principle factors:-
A susceptible host
tissue
Agent
Environment

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In addition, a fourth factor “time”, is also considered. This
concept is shown in the “Keyes diagram”. All the factors
must be present and must interact with each other for dental
caries to develop.
HOST AGENT
ENVIRO
NMENT
TIME TIME
TIME
DENTAL
CARIES

31. A susceptible host tissue
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 A person or other animal, including birds and arthropods that
affords subsistence or lodgment to an infectious agent under
natural condition.
 In case of dental caries, host is the tooth itself.

32. Tooth structure
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COMPOSITION ENAMEL DENTIN CEMENTUM
ORGANIC
SUBSTANCE &
WATER
4% 35% 50-55%
INORGANIC
SUBSTANCE
96% 65% 45-50%

33. Morphologic characteristics of tooth
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 PREDISPOSING FACTORS:-
1.Presence of deep, narrow, occlusal fissures or buccal and
lingual pits.
2. Alteration of tooth structure by disturbance in formation or in
calcification

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Tooth position
 Teeth which are malaligned, rotated or out of position may be
difficult to clean and tends to favor the accumulation of food and
debris .
 This, in susceptible persons, would be sufficient to cause caries in
tooth.

35. Variation in caries within the Mouth
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 It is grouped under three main parts:-
a) Observation on types of caries, according to tooth
surface attacked.
b) Observation upon the frequency with which the
different teeth in the mouth are attacked.
c) Observation upon bilateral symmetry.

36. CARIES SUSCEPTIBILITY OF
INDIVIDUAL TOOTH SURFACE
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OCCLUSAL
MESIAL
BUCCAL
LINGUAL

37. Caries susceptibility of individual
teeth
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Upper and Lower first molars - 95%
Upper and Lower second molars – 75%
Upper second bicuspids -45%
Upper first bicuspids – 35%
Lower second bicuspids -35%
Upper central and lateral incisors –
30%
Upper cuspids and lower
first bicuspids – 10%
Lower central and
lateral incisors – 3%
Lower
cuspids – 3%

38. CARIES SUSCEPTIBILITY OF
INDIVIDUAL QUADRANTS
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 Many investigators have shown that caries exhibit a bilateral distribution
between right and left quadrants on both maxillary and mandibular arches.
 Scott (1944) found bilateral caries in 95% of a group of 300 persons whose
dental radiographs were studied.
 Healey and Cheyne (1943) studying caries activity in the University of
Minnesota students reported that 44.4% and 47.5% of the maxillary teeth were
involved in men and women respectively, compared to 33.1% and 34.4% of
the mandibular teeth in respective gender. It may relate to gravity and the fact
that saliva, with it’s buffering action would tend to drain from the upper teeth
and collect around the lower teeth

39. OTHER HOST FACTORS
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1) Saliva
 Composition
 pH
 Quantity
 Viscosity
 Antibacterial factors.
2) Race and ethnic groups
3) Age
4) Gender
5) Hereditary
6) Emotional disturbances.
7) Nutrition
8) Socio-economic Status

40. Saliva
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 The fact that teeth are in constant contact with and bathed in
saliva would suggest that this factor could profoundly
influence the state of oral health of a person.
 One of the most important function of saliva is its role in
removal of micro flora & food debris from the mouth

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CONSTITUENTS
INORGANIC CONSTITUENTS ORGANIC CONSTTIUENTS
Positive ions Carbohydrates - Glucose
Calcium, Hydrogen, Magnesium,
Potassium
Lipids – Cholesterol, lecithin
Negative ions Nitrogen – non protein
Ammonia, Urea
Carbon dioxide, Carbonate, Chloride,
Fluoride & Phosphates
Nitrogen – protein
Globulin, Mucin
Peroxides
enzymes

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 Quantity of saliva
 Normal: 700-800 ml/day
 salivary gland Aplasia and Xerostomia where salivary flow is
reduced results in rampant dental caries.
High Caries Incidence Is Associated With Thick Mucinous Saliva.
 Viscosity of saliva:

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 Antibacterial properties of saliva:
 Lactoperoxidase
 Lysozyme
 Lactoferrin
 IgA
 Other salivary components with protective function
 Proline rich proteins- mucin and glycoprotein

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SALIVARY pH
 Determined mainly by the Bicarbonate concentration
 Salivary pH increases with flow rate
 Salivary buffers increase pH of saliva in the oral cavity.
Decrease pH favors
caries

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 Stephan curve:-
Acidogenic bacteria in dental plaque rapidly metabolize
fermentable carbohydrates producing acidic end products. In
the mouth, these changes over time in response to a challenge
(usually a cariogenic food) are known as Stephan responses or
Stephan curves. The pH of dental plaque under resting
conditions (i.e., when no food or drink has been consumed), is
fairly constant. Differences do exist, however, between
individuals and in different sites within an individual.

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 Under resting conditions, pH of plaque is constant, 6.9-7.2.
 Following exposure to sugars the pH drops very rapidly(in
few minutes) to its lowest level(5.5-5.2 – critical pH) and at
this pH, the tooth surface is at risk.
 During the critical period, the tooth mineral dissolves to
buffer further acid at lower pH in the plaque – enamel
interface and also result in mineral loss.

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The Stephan Curve
Adapted from: Stephan RM, Miller BF. A quantitative
method for evaluating physical and chemical agents
which modify production of acids in bacterial plaques on
human teeth. J Dent Res. 1943;22;45-51.

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 Repeated fall of pH over a period of time leads to more and
more mineral loss from the tooth surface and ultimately it
presents in unfavorable way resulting in initiation of dental
caries
 Later slowly it returns to its original value over a period of
30-60 minutes, approximately.

49. RACE OR ETHINC GROUPS
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 Certain races enjoy high degree of resistance to caries.
 These beliefs have faded as evidence suggests that these
differences are more due to environmental factors than
inherent racial attributes

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 Non-European races such as African and Asian
enjoyed freedom from caries than Europeans.
Moreover, certain groups, once thought to be
resistant to caries became susceptible when they
moved area with different cultural and dietary
pattern.

51. Age
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 Previously caries was considered “essentially a disease of
childhood” but it shows 3 peaks: at ages of 4-8 years, 11-19
years, and 55-65 years.
 With the advent of better preventive measures like use of
fluorides, maintenance of oral hygiene, etc, more and more
younger people are reaching adulthood with many caries free
surfaces, and hence caries is becoming a ‘disease of lifetime’.

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 Maximum caries activity is noticed among children and later
root caries prevalence will be more in elderly people.

53. Gender
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 Many studies have shown higher caries experience in girls
than boys during childhood period & also later at adolescence
period.
Increased susceptibility may be due to:
1. Early eruption of teeth in females
2. Morphological difference in teeth
3. Increased fondness towards sweets among girls
4. Due to hormonal changes
 Root caries is more prevalent in males

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 Several epidemiological studies have shown a consistent,
higher caries experience in permanent teeth of females as
compared to males of the same chronological age in
spite of a higher average level of oral hygiene in girls.
This was shown by the results of the survey of the US
department of Health and Human service
{ Brunelle and Carlos, 1982}

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 Observation by Carlos and Gittelshon {1965} support the
observation that eruption time explains the most, but not all,
of the age specific prevalence difference between boys & girls
. Even after the adjustment for eruption times the caries rate
for the first and second molars were consistently higher in
females.

56. FAMILIAL HEREDITY
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 “ GOOD OR BAD TEETH RUN IN THE FAMILY”
 Family studies have shown that offspring have the same score
as parents and this happens due to transmission of dietary and
oral hygiene habits through family.
 Mansbridge found a greater resemblance between identical
twins or fraternal twins than unrelated pair of children.

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 In a study of identical twins the dominance of hereditary
factor should reveal a more closely related caries pattern than
would be found in fraternal twins. Such studies indicate that
concordance for caries sites in monozygotic twins is much
higher than in dizygotic twin pairs. The studies suggest that
genetically determined factors such as tooth morphology and
occlusion, may play a significant role in determining caries
rate.

58. EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES
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 Periods of stress have been associated with high caries
incidence.
 Schizophrenics have reduced caries activity which may be
attributed to increased salivation and higher pH of saliva.

59. NUTRITION
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 Nutrition can be called a host factor to the extend
that the individual selects specific foods from the
array available to him/her.
 Under nutrition is associated with hypoplasia of
enamel, salivary gland atropy, reduced salivary
flow rate leading to high susceptibility to dental
caries.
 Under nutrition results in delayed shedding of
primary teeth and delayed eruption.

60. SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
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 It is difficult to correlate caries pattern with socioeconomic
status due to its complexity.
 It is noticed that low SES groups have more number of
decayed & missing teeth but less number of filled teeth and
vice versa in high SES group.
 Good economic status and social pressure in the direction of
good appearances are both strong factors in creating demand
for dental treatment.

61. Agents
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 Agent- A substance living or non living or a force tangible or
intangible, the excessive presence or lack of which may
initiate disease process.
 The classical germ –free animal studies of Orland et al(1954),
firmly established principal evidence that had been debated
for more than a century that dental caries is a bacterial
infection.

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Mutans Streptococcus – initiation of
smooth surface caries
Lactobacillus - Initiation of pit and
fissure caries, progression of
smooth surface caries
Actinomyces - Root caries

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 Role of dental plaque:-
Dental plaque is a complex, metabolically interconnected, highly
organized, bacterial ecosystem. It is a structure of vital
significance of the carious lesion. An important component of
dental plaque is acquired pellicle, which forms just prior to or
with bacterial colonization and may facilitate plaque
formation.

64. A suitable local substrate
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 The role of diet and nutritional factors deserves special
consideration. The physical properties of food may be
significant by affecting food retention, food clearance,
solubility and oral hygiene.
 Various factors that considered among the properties of diet:-

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Physical nature of the diet
Carbohydrate content of diet
Vitamin content of diet
Calcium and phosphorous dietary intake
Fluoride content of diet.

66. Classic Dietary Studies
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 5year investigation
 436 adult inmates in a mental institution at the Vipeholm
hospital near Sweden.
 The institutional diet was nutritious but contained little sugar
with no provision for between meal snacks.
VIPEHOLM STUDY Gustaffson et al 1954

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 7 Experimental groups
GROUP INTERVENTION
CONTROL Usual diet
SUCROSE 300g of sucrose in solution, 75g in last 2 years
BREAD 345 g of sweet bread = 50g of sugar daily
CHOCOLATE 65g of milk chocolate daily between meals for last 2 years
CARAMEL 22 caramels = 70g of sugar in 4 proportions between meals
8 TOFFEE 8 sticky toffee = 60g of sugar daily for 3 years
24 TOFFEE 24 toffee = 120g of sugar for 18 months

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 An increase in carbohydrate mainly sugar definitely increase
caries activity.
 Risk of caries is greater if the sugar is sticky in nature.
 The caries activity is greatest, if the sugar is consumed
between meals
 Increase in caries activity varies widely between individuals
 Upon withdrawal of the sugar rich foods, increase activity
rapidly decrease and disappears
 A high concentration of sugar in solution and its prolonged
retention on tooth surfaces leads to increase caries activity
This study showed that the physical from of
carbohydrate is much more important in
Cariogenicity than the total amount of sugar
ingested.
Conclusions of the Vipeholm study

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 3 -14 years age children
 Hope wood house, Bowral , New south Wales Australia,
 10 years.
 strictly institutional diet
 occasional serving of egg yolk
 Diet - vegetable in nature and largely raw.
 The absence of meat and a rigid restriction of refined
carbohydrate
 The meals were supplemented by vitamin concentrates and an
occasional serving of nuts and honey.
 The fluoride content of water and food was insignificant and
no tea was consumed.
HOPEWOOD HOUSE STUDY (SULLIVAN- 1958, HARRIS –1963)

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 At the end of 10 years  13 years old had DMFT
mean 1.6 /child
 General population  13 years old mean DMFT 10.7
 53% children at the hope wood house  caries free
 0.4% children of state children  caries free.
 Hope wood house children’s oral hygiene was poor, calculus +
gingivitis more prevalent in 75% of children.
Conclusion :
In institutionalized children, at least dental caries can be reduced
by carbohydrate restricted diet without the beneficial effects of
fluoride and in the presence of unfavorable oral hygiene.
RESULTS

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Finland studies
Aim : To Study the effects of the chronic consumption of
sucrose, fructose and xylitol on dental caries.
2 year study of 125 young adults
125 young adults 
Sucrose group – 35 people
Fructose group – 38 people
Xylitol group – 52 people
TURKU SUGAR STUDIES (Scheinin, Makinen et al 1975)

74. Conclusion
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After 2 years
 Sucrose group  increased Cariogenicity
 Fructose group  fructose as cariogenic as sucrose for first 1
year, less cariogenic at the end of 24 months.
 Xylitol group  dramatic reduction in the incidence of dental
caries after 2 years
 Frequent chewing of xylitol gum in between meals produced
anti-cariogenic effect.
‘Sucrose is arch criminal’

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76. PREVENTIVE DIETARY
PROGRAMME
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1. Exclude fermentable sugars from diet.
2. If child is fond of sweets, give them all at meal time, not
between the meals.
3. Include vegetables and fruits, nuts (pea nuts) and cheese as
basic diet (increases in salivation).
4. Avoid solid and sticky sugary foods.
5. Reduce the number of sugar exposures.

77. Diabetes and Dental caries
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 The occurrence of dental caries in patients with diabetes mellitus has
been studied, but no specific association has been identified.
 The relationship between dental caries and diabetes mellitus is
complex. Children with type 1 diabetes often are given diets that
restrict their intake of carbohydrate-rich, cariogenic foods, whereas
children and adults with type 2 diabetes—which often is associated
with obesity and intake of high-calorie and carbohydrate rich food—
can be expected to have a greater exposure to cariogenic foods.

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 Furthermore, a reduction in salivary flow has been reported
in people with diabetes who have neuropathy, and diminished
salivary flow is a risk factor for dental caries. The literature
presents no consistent pattern regarding the relationship of
dental caries and Diabetes.

79. Environment
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 All that which is external to the individual human
host living or non-living and with which he is in
constant interaction.

80. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
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 GEOGRAPHIC VARIATIONS
a) Following geographic factors influence the
parameters
i. Sunshine
ii. Temperature
iii. Rainfall
iv. Fluoride level
v. Total water hardness
vi. Trace elements
vii. Soil
viii. Relative humidity

81. Sunshine
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 The high correlation leads to consideration of the mechanism
relating sunshine to caries. Ultraviolet light from the sun is
known for its ability to promote synthesis of vitamin D in skin
tissue and thus reduce caries incidence.

82. Temperature
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 Temperature varies with latitude and altitude. It acts to vary
the caloric requirements and water intake of humans.
 One study by US department of agriculture showed that the
consumption of baked foods and sugar to be higher in the
north where temperatures are low. Hence lower the
temperature, higher the caries prevalence.

83. Relative Humidity
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 Humidity shows higher correlation with caries
prevalence.
 Higher the humidity, more moisture in the
atmosphere which block the UV rays and sunlight .
Hence increased caries activity.

84. Rainfall
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 Rainfall which leaches minerals from the soil and blocks
sunlight. Though no latitude relation is evident, there is
evident, there is regular decrease in rainfalls as one proceeds
inshore. The mechanisms by which relative humidity and
rainfall might be linked to dental caries, either together or
separately.

85. Fluoride
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 Fluoride is most common in deep-well waters, and deep wells
are most common in inshore areas.

86. Water Hardness
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 Water hardness is measured by the concentration of
calcium carbonate.
 An inverse relation is seen between caries and
water hardness

87. Trace elements
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 A number of trace elements deserve attention, some found
in water supplies but most found in greater concentration in
common foodstuffs.
 Hadjimarkos has found marked increase in dental caries in
areas where selenium was high both in water and
foodstuffs.

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 Selenium is the first micronutrient element shown to be
capable of increasing caries, particularly when consumed
during the developmental period of the teeth and incorporated
into their structure.

89. Soil
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 Where populations depend largely on locally grown food
products .
 Ludwig, Healy & Malthus noted marked difference in
caries between the town of Napier and Hastings, New
Zealand, without any environmental factor other than soil to
account for it. Difference in diet, fluoride, climate and so
forth were negligible. The soil of Napier, however, had
higher pH, higher molybdenum, and the children there had
lower caries.
 Soil is not likely to prove an important elements in program
for the prevention of dental disease

90. Urbanization
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 A study by WHO has showed higher caries score in
urban areas where the consumption of refined food
stuffs by urban community is observed

91. Nutrition
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 Nutrition is an environmental factor as the
influence of food available to the population.

92. Social Factor
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 Social factors like economic status, social pressure,
provision of good preventive measures etc. might
create more demand for better dental care and leads
to lesser caries prevalence

93. Industrial hazards
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 Carbohydrate dust and acid fumes are both known to be
deleterious to the teeth, the one promoting caries and other
chemical erosion.

94. Classification of dental caries
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According to Black's Classification of Caries Lesions:
 Class I Caries affecting pits and fissures on occlusal third of
molars and premolars, occlusal two thirds of molars and
premolars, and Lingual part of anterior teeth.
 Class II Caries affecting proximal surfaces
of molars and premolars.
 Class III Caries affecting proximal surfaces of central
incisors, lateral incisors and cuspids.

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 Class IV Caries affecting proximal including incisal
edges of anterior teeth.
 Class V Caries affecting gingival 1/3 of facial or
lingual surfaces of anterior or posterior teeth.
 Class VI (never described by Black, added later by
others) Caries affecting cusp tips of molars, premolars,
and cuspids.

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97. Various clinical classification system
for caries-
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1- According to location
A) Pit and fissure
B) Smooth surface
C) Root surface
2- According to clinical appearance
a) Incipient
b) Cavitations
c) Gross destruction

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3- According to rate of disease progression
a) Acute
b) Chronic
c) Arrested
d) Rampant
4- According to history
a) Primary
b) Secondary or recurrent

99. Reasons for caries decline and rise
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 Common factors contributing to the decline of dental
caries in developed countries-
 Fluoridation of water supplies
 Use of fluoride supplements
 Use of fluoride dentifrices
 Availability of dental resources
 Increased dental awareness

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 Changes in diagnostic criteria
 Widespread use of antibiotics
 Herd immunity
 Decrease in sugar consumption

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 Reasons for rise in dental caries in developing countries:-
 Increase in sugar consumption in underdeveloped countries
 Lack of dental resources
 Socio economic factor
 Lack of water fluoridation
 Lack of preventive dental health programes

102. Levels of prevention of dental caries
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LEVELS OF
PREVENTION
PRIMARY PREVENTION SECONDARY
PREVENTION
TERTIARY PREVENTION
PREVENTIVE
SERVICES
HEALTH
PROMOTION
SPECIFIC
PROTECTION
EARLY DIAGNOSIS &
PROMPT TREATMENT
DISABILITY
LIMITATION
REHABILITATION
Services provided by
the individual
Diet planning
Demand for
preventive
services
Periodic visits to
dental clinic
Appropriate use
of fluoride
Ingestion of
fluoridated water
Use of fluoridated
dentifrices
Oral hygiene
practices
Self examination &
referral
Utilization of dental
services
Utilization of
dental services
Utilization of
dental services

103. Levels of prevention of dental caries
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LEVELS OF
PREVENTION
PRIMARY PREVENTION SECONDARY
PREVENTION
TERTIARY PREVENTION
PREVENTIVE
SERVICES
HEALTH
PROMOTION
SPECIFIC
PROTECTION
EARLY DIAGNOSIS &
PROMPT TREATMENT
DISABILITY
LIMITATION
REHABILITATION
Services provided
by the community
Dental health
education
programs
Promotion of lobby
efforts
Community or
school water
fluoridation
School fluoride
mouth rinse
program
School sealant
program
Periodic screening &
referral
Provision of dental
services
Provision of
dental services
Provision of dental
services

104. Levels of prevention of dental caries
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LEVELS OF
PREVENTION
PRIMARY PREVENTION SECONDARY
PREVENTION
TERTIARY PREVENTION
PREVENTIVE
SERVICES
HEALTH
PROMOTION
SPECIFIC
PROTECTION
EARLY DIAGNOSIS &
PROMPT TREATMENT
DISABILITY
LIMITATION
REHABILITATION
Services provided by
professional
Patient education
Plaque control
program
Diet counseling
Recall
reinforcement
Caries activity
tests
Topical
application of
fluorides
Fluorides
supplement
Rinse
preparation
Pit & fissure
sealant
Complete examination
Prompt treatment of
incipient lesions
Preventive resin
restorations
Simple restorative
dentistry
Pulp capping
Complex
restorative
dentistry
Pulpotomy
RCT
Extraction
Removable & fixed
prosthodontics
Minor tooth
movement
implants

105. Conclusion
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Dental caries is still a considerable burden largely
in developing world and to lesser extent in
developed world. Nevertheless continuous &
significant presence of dental caries in population
and with its prime determinants is operating in
relatively large number of populations.
So further exploration using
epidemiology as a tool will certainly throw a light
in understanding and management of dental caries.

106. REFERENCES
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1. Peter S Essentials of Preventive and
Community Dentistry 2014 5th ed.
2. Rajendran R, Sivapathasundharam B Shefer’s
Textbook of oral pathology 2012. 7th edition. Pg
no. – 419-440
3. Hiremath SS Textbook of Preventive and
Community Dentistry 2011 2nd ed.
4. Marya CM A Textbook of public health dentistry
.2011 1st edition : 98-111

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5. Hansa Kundu, Basavaraj Patthi,Ashish Singla,
Chandrashekar Jankiram, Swati Jain, and
Khushboo Singh Dental Caries Scenario
Among 5, 12 and 15-Year-old Children in
India- A Retrospective Analysis J Clin Diagn
Res. 2015 Jul; 9(7): ZE01–ZE05.
6.