Introductory Chapter: Diagnosis of Dental Caries

Abstract

Dental caries is a frequently observed pathology affecting both the primary and the permanent teeth. This disease is usually detected with visual-tactile method. Visual-tactile method is suitable for the detection of cavitated caries localized on the occlusal and smooth surfaces of the teeth. It also gives diagnostic information about the presence of deep cavitated caries localized on the approximal surfaces. However, it is not useful for the detection of initial non-cavitated approximal caries. It is not useful for the detection of initial non-cavitated approximal caries.