Dental caries in

temporary dentition
Dental caries - definition
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Etiology of caries - Caries is a multifactorial disease with interplay
of many factors.

KEY”S TRIAD Modification in Key”s triad

Role of the tooth in Etiology of caries
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 1. Anatomic characteristics of the teeth

The teeth require additional 2-3 years for post-eruptive maturation

through exposure to saliva.

Permanent molars have incompletely coalesced pits and fissures that

allow the dental plaque material to be retained at the base of the defect
in contact with exposed dentin.

The palatal pits of the maxillary molars, the buccal pit of the
mandibular molars and the palatal pits on the maxillary incisors are
very vulnerable for development of caries.
2. Arch form
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Areas of crowding are at risk

for developing caries
3. Presence of dental appliances and restoration
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4. Composition of the teeth
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Role of saliva in the etiology of caries

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Composition of saliva
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Flow rate of saliva
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Salivary buffers
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Viscosity of saliva
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Antibacterial property
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Streptococcus mutans – the most common microorganism to
cause caries
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Dental Plaque
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Plaque
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Dental plaque
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 Area susceptibility for caries
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Area susceptibility for caries
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Area susceptibility for caries
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 CLASSIFICATION OF CARIES

• Based on the location • Based on chronology

– Pit and fissure caries – Early childhood caries such as nursing bottle caries
– Smooth surface caries – Teenage caries such as rampant caries
– Adult caries such as root caries which is common in
• Based on the severity adults
– Acute caries
– Chronic caries • Based on the origin
– Arrested caries – Primary (virgin) caries
– Secondary (recurrent) caries
• Based on the extension
– Enamel caries: Caries limited to enamel
– Dental caries: Caries extending to dentin
– Root caries: Usually not seen in children
Enamel caries – early features
 Pit or fissure caries
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Caries on the pits and fissures

of posterior teeth
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 Pit or fissure caries
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Normal Fissure

(A) Diagrammatic representation of a deep fissure

– Total depth of the fissure: 1.5 mm
– Depth to which a bristle can reach (Arrow): 0.4 mm
– Depth of the fissure that cannot be cleaned
(Darkened area): 1.1 mm;

(B) Ground section of the normal fissure

(Arrows) indicating the narrow fissures bifurcating into
a inverted Y shaped deep fissure
 Smooth surface caries
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 Smooth surface caries
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• Seen on the labial surface

Involving the proximal surface of central incisors

Acute dental caries
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Acute dental caries
Chronic dental caries
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Arrested caries
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 Reccurent caries

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 Rampant caries
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 Rampant caries - definition
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Early chilhood caries
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Early chilhood caries
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Classification of ECC

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Features of ECC
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