Advanced diagnostic aids in dental caries - A review

Dental caries is the result of a change in the balance of mineral loss and gain, leading to further changes in the structure of the tooth, which may not be accepted as healthy but should be considered pathological. Dental caries, a progressive bacterial damage to the teeth, is one of the most common diseases affecting 95% of people and is still a major cause of tooth loss.Therefore, early and accurate diagnosis of dental caries is an important factor in the complete management of a dental patient. The advanced diagnostic methods available to physicians today are greatly expanded on the basis of a comprehensive visual examination, which has also been a pillar of the diagnostic process.This article describes various technologies available to assist dentists in the detection and diagnosis of dental caries during the early stages of formation, to evaluate the functions of the detected carious lesion, and to monitor the size or quality of the lesion over time. The dentistry field is progressing towards a more conservative approach when treating dental caries.