Dental Caries GV Black Classification of Carious Lesions

Definition: Dental Caries is an irreversible microbial disease of the calcified tissues of the teeth, characterized by de-mineralization of the inorganic portion and destruction of the organic substance of the tooth.

Dental Caries is the result of the formation of dental plaque which harbors bacteria which in turn ferment carbohydrates available in daily food producing acids. This production of acid in turn decreases the pH below 5, prolonged exposure to low pH leads to demineralization of the tooth structure with which it was in contact with. Saliva acts as a neutralizing agent to increase the pH levels which might lead to remineralization is most cases. But this alternating de and re mineralization process decreases the strength of the tooth structure due to loss of mineral leading to the start of a carious lesion. The Classification of Dental caries is done based on the location of the carious lesion .

GV Black Classified Carious Lesions into 6 types based on their location:

• Class I: Carious lesions on the Occlusal areas or Buccal areas or Lingual Pits on the tooth surface.
• Class II: Carious Lesions on the Posterior occlusal and inter-proximal surfaces of the tooth.
• Class III: Carious Lesions on the Anterior inter-proximal surfaces of the tooth.
• Class IV: Carious Lesions on the Anterior inter-proximal surfaces of the tooth including the Incisal corners.
• Class V: Carious Lesion on the Gingival third of the crown on Facial or lingual Surfaces of the Tooth.
• Class VI: Carious Lesion on Tip of The Cusp of Posterior Teeth

Class I: Carious lesions on the Occlusal areas or Buccal areas or Lingual Pits on the tooth surface.

Class I Carious Lesion

Class II: Carious Lesions on the Posterior occlusal and inter-proximal surfaces of the tooth.

Class III: Carious Lesions on the Anterior inter-proximal surfaces of the tooth.

Class IV: Carious Lesions on the Anterior inter-proximal surfaces of the tooth including the Incisal corners.

Class V: Carious Lesion on the Gingival third of the crown on Facial or lingual Surfaces of the Tooth.

Class VI: Carious Lesion on Tip of The Cusp of Posterior Teeth

Dental caries is also seen on the Root surface and based on the extent of the carious lesion it is classified into 4 types. Root caries is defined as the caries seen apical to the Cemento enamel junction.