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.
About The Author
Varun Pandula
I am Varun, a Dentist from Hyderabad, India trying my bit to help everyone understand Dental problems and treatments and to make Dental Education simplified for Dental Students and Dental fraternity. If you have any doubts feel free to contact me or comment in the post, thanks for visiting.
hi varun keep it up
Excellent presentation
what an educative site i really cherished that and would always refer to it for my further research
Knowing that the site is helpful really makes me feel great as i made this for the same reason to help Dentists and Dental Students
always refer to this unit
Thank you Varun for this educative write up on G.V. Black’s classification of carious lesions. Please can I have a detailed reference to this write up as I want to cite it in my own publication too.
Very Useful Article and appropriately demonstrated with the images!
hello I am maryam from afghanistan and i am studying my phd in slovakia tnx from your blog it has been helped me too much. :)
What is the rationale for g.v. Black classification of caries ?
operative dentistry is art & science of diagnosis , treatment and prognosis of those defects of teeth which don’t require full coverage restoration for correction.. Such treatment should result in restoration of proper tooth form, function, esthetic. While maintaing physiologial integrity of the teeth in harmonious relationship with the adjacent soft and hard tissues. All of which should enhance the general health & welfare of the tissue.
thank you for enabling a kenyan like me to learn G.v dental classification
Simon gave class 6 not GV Black
thanks. …keep it up
Am a Dental therapist and a lecturer, very educative write up.
Thank you
Hi
If the tooth has both class 2 and class 5 caries lesions then how will you classify the same?!
You can mention them separately that the tooth has class 2 and class 5 carious lesions.
can you tell the walls present in each class of dental caries?
thanks alot sir
I jafaru umar I read Dental surgery assistant
I am mohammed from nigeria, i studying dental surgery technician, i really educated for that presentation. Thanks alot and wish you all the best Dr. Varun
Thank you Varun, please note GREAT NEWS that dental caries is NOT irreversible, BUT it’s actually REVERSIBLE!
It is reversible via using fluoride, brushing, water fluoridation, reducing sugar, flossing, and many other strategies. See CAMBRA.
We do still need to do filings but this is influenced by risk assessment of patients and the size of the lesion.
I hope that helps!
Thank you Sir,
But the idea behind mentioning “Irreversible” is the change which Dental Caries is to the mineralized hard tissue of the tooth which cannot get back to its original state or strength once the mineralized tissue is affected.