Visual method with temporary elective tooth separation

Visual method used in European epidemiologic surveysProbing has been criticized for several reasons: It may allow transmission of  cariogenic bacteria from infected sites, it can irreversibly traumatize potentially remineralizable noncavitated lesions of enamel and dentin, and it may provide no more accuracy in diagnosis than visual inspection alone, particularly in the fissures and on the posterior approximal surfaces. Accordingly, a so-called European system of examination for surveys, based primarily on detailed visual examination, has been adopted by many epidemiologists.

Clinical visual-tactile methodThis method is based on a combination of light, mirror, and gentle probing and is used in most epidemiologic surveys in the United States. Caries is diagnosed if the tooth meets the American Dental Association criteria of softened enamel that catches an explorer and resists its removal (the so-called sticky fissure) or allows the explorer to penetrate proximal surfaces under moderate-to-firm probing pressure. Lighting is usually adequate, but the teeth are neither cleaned nor dried.

Visual method used in general practiceThe visual method, a combination of light, mirror, and the probe for detailed examination of every tooth surface, is by far the most commonly applied method in general practice worldwide. Although sensitivity is low and specificity is high, it may be possible to detect:1. Noncavitated enamel lesions (D1) on the free smooth surfaces (buccal and lingual), most anterior approximal surfaces, and the opening of some fissures 2. Clinically detected "cavities" limited to the enamel (D1, D2)3.

Diagnosis and Registration of Carious LesionsIntroductionThe coronal carious lesion starts as a clinically undetectable subsurfacedemineralization. With further progression, it will eventually become clinicallydetectable, and can then be classified according to type, localization, size, depth, andshape (see Table 15).Apart from for the occult fissure lesion penetrating deeply into the dentin, dilemmasin clinical detection and registration arise not with the advanced lesion, but primarilywith the early lesion (confined to the outer enamel), the noncavitated lesion of dentin,recurrent caries (around the margins of restorations), and subgingival root caries.

Root cariesAccording to Hix and O'Leary (1976), root surface caries is defined as "a cavitationor softened area in the root surface which might or might not involve adjacent enamelor existing restorations (primary and recurrent lesions)." Nyvad and Fejerskov (1987)introduced the definitions of active and inactive carious lesions of the root. Rootcaries may be classified as primary or secondary, cementum or dentin, active orinactive, and with or without cavitation (see Table 15). The lesions can also beclassified according to the texture (soft, leathery, or hard) and the color (yellow, lightbrown, dark brown, or black).