©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
DH244 interpretation of dental caries. Exam
Questions With Correct Answers
What is the definition of caries? - answer✔demineralization and destruction of hard tooth
structures result in a loss of tooth density in the area of the lesion
how do caries appear on a radiograph? - answer✔radiolucent, due to less density of structures
what are the radiographs of choice for the evaluation of dental caries and early bone loss? -
answer✔bitewing radiographs
do radiographs give you an accurate representation of the progression of dental caries? -
answer✔no, caries is always farther advanced clinically
what are the 5 radiographic locations of caries? - answer✔interproximal, occlusal, buccal,
lingual and root
which type of caries are between 2 adjacent surfaces and are apical to the contact of the teeth?
- answer✔interproximal caries
what kind of configuration do interproximal caries have? - answer✔triangular, with apex of the
triangle located toward the DEJ
how do interproximal caries spread? - answer✔as it progresses toward into the DEJ it spreads
laterally and continues into the dentin
what happens as interproximal caries continues to develop? - answer✔w/in the dentin the
decay continues forming another triangle w/ the base of the triangle at the DEJ and the apex
pointed toward the pulp chamber
how are interproximal caries classified? - answer✔according to the depth and penetration the
lesion exhibits through the enamel and dentin
what type of caries is described?
involves enamel only, is less than half of the way through the enamel, a tiny radiolucent notch
interproximally - answer✔incipient interproximal caries
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, ©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
what type of caries is described?
extends more than half way through the enamel but does not extend into the DEJ -
answer✔moderate interproximal caries
what class lesions are moderate interproximal caries? - answer✔class 2
what class lesions are incipient interproximal caries? - answer✔class 1
what type of caries is described?
extends into the DEJ and into the dentin but does NOT extend through the dentin more than
half the distance toward the pulp chamber, involves BOTH enamel and dentin -
answer✔advanced interproximal caries
what type of lesion class are advanced interproximal caries? - answer✔class 3 lesion
what type of caries is described?
extends through enamel and dentin and MORE than half the distance toward the pulp
chamber, involves BOTH enamel and dentin, radiographically seen as a large radiolucency from
the interproximal region into crown of the tooth - answer✔severe interproximal caries
what lesion class is severe interproximal caries? - answer✔class 4
how are occlusal caries best seen? - answer✔clinically
why are early occlusal caries difficult to see clinically? - answer✔because of the
superimposition of the dense buccal and lingual enamel cusps
when do occlusal caries become apparent radiographically? - answer✔after the DEJ is involved
how must incipient occlusal caries be detected? - answer✔clinically, they cannot be seen
radiographically
what type of caries are described?
may be seen as a very thin line in the dentin, a thin radiolucency is located under the enamel of
the occlusal surface of the tooth - answer✔moderate occlusal caries
how does caries spread once the DEJ becomes involved in moderate occlusal caries? -
answer✔the caries spreads laterally and then extends downwards toward the pulp
what type of caries is described?
2|Page
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
DH244 interpretation of dental caries. Exam
Questions With Correct Answers
What is the definition of caries? - answer✔demineralization and destruction of hard tooth
structures result in a loss of tooth density in the area of the lesion
how do caries appear on a radiograph? - answer✔radiolucent, due to less density of structures
what are the radiographs of choice for the evaluation of dental caries and early bone loss? -
answer✔bitewing radiographs
do radiographs give you an accurate representation of the progression of dental caries? -
answer✔no, caries is always farther advanced clinically
what are the 5 radiographic locations of caries? - answer✔interproximal, occlusal, buccal,
lingual and root
which type of caries are between 2 adjacent surfaces and are apical to the contact of the teeth?
- answer✔interproximal caries
what kind of configuration do interproximal caries have? - answer✔triangular, with apex of the
triangle located toward the DEJ
how do interproximal caries spread? - answer✔as it progresses toward into the DEJ it spreads
laterally and continues into the dentin
what happens as interproximal caries continues to develop? - answer✔w/in the dentin the
decay continues forming another triangle w/ the base of the triangle at the DEJ and the apex
pointed toward the pulp chamber
how are interproximal caries classified? - answer✔according to the depth and penetration the
lesion exhibits through the enamel and dentin
what type of caries is described?
involves enamel only, is less than half of the way through the enamel, a tiny radiolucent notch
interproximally - answer✔incipient interproximal caries
1|Page
, ©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
what type of caries is described?
extends more than half way through the enamel but does not extend into the DEJ -
answer✔moderate interproximal caries
what class lesions are moderate interproximal caries? - answer✔class 2
what class lesions are incipient interproximal caries? - answer✔class 1
what type of caries is described?
extends into the DEJ and into the dentin but does NOT extend through the dentin more than
half the distance toward the pulp chamber, involves BOTH enamel and dentin -
answer✔advanced interproximal caries
what type of lesion class are advanced interproximal caries? - answer✔class 3 lesion
what type of caries is described?
extends through enamel and dentin and MORE than half the distance toward the pulp
chamber, involves BOTH enamel and dentin, radiographically seen as a large radiolucency from
the interproximal region into crown of the tooth - answer✔severe interproximal caries
what lesion class is severe interproximal caries? - answer✔class 4
how are occlusal caries best seen? - answer✔clinically
why are early occlusal caries difficult to see clinically? - answer✔because of the
superimposition of the dense buccal and lingual enamel cusps
when do occlusal caries become apparent radiographically? - answer✔after the DEJ is involved
how must incipient occlusal caries be detected? - answer✔clinically, they cannot be seen
radiographically
what type of caries are described?
may be seen as a very thin line in the dentin, a thin radiolucency is located under the enamel of
the occlusal surface of the tooth - answer✔moderate occlusal caries
how does caries spread once the DEJ becomes involved in moderate occlusal caries? -
answer✔the caries spreads laterally and then extends downwards toward the pulp
what type of caries is described?
2|Page
