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Walk the Even Hospital Database by book and chapter — the raw source passages that ground Ask, DDx, and the rest.

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introductionstatpearls· Introduction· item NBK574510

Dental caries remains one of the most widespread chronic infections globally. Fortunately, numerous diagnostic tests developed over the past century now enable earlier detection of the disease, supporting timely intervention and more effective management to address caries before significant progression occurs. To provide the most accurate and efficient treatment, dental practitioners should combine various diagnostic tests. A visual-tactile examination allows for an initial diagnosis, later supplemented and verified by the tool that best fits the case. Diagnostic tests can be further separated into qualitative and quantitative according to the type of information provided. Radiographs are commonly used as the first aid in diagnosis after the clinical examination and offer the practitioner a qualitative diagnosis. Caries detection dyes are primarily used to aid in caries removal rather than for diagnosing caries. The uses of fiber optic transillumination are numerous, but the device is still primarily utilized for caries diagnosis. Newer diagnostic tools, such as laser fluorescence detection devices and light-induced fluorescence, give more accurate information about the carious lesion. Light-induced fluorescence detects the lesion's specific location and extension, as well as bacterial activity, providing quantitative data.[1] Laser fluorescence detection devices detect remineralization and demineralization processes, which can be implemented to diagnose an incipient lesion and assess the efficacy of a remineralization therapy. Since this tool provides a numerical value, it is considered a quantitative test.[2]