Dental caries

Article By:

Robinovitch, Murray Department of Oral Biology, University of Washington School of Dentistry, Seattle, Washington.

Last reviewed:August 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.757267

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• Dental caries, published June 2014:Download PDF Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

A disease in which the mineralized tissues of the tooth undergo progressive destruction from the outside surface of the tooth. The scientific term of dental caries (Fig. 1) is more commonly referred to as tooth decay or cavities. Carious lesions occur when bacteria colonize the tooth surface and, under certain conditions, produce sufficient acids to demineralize the enamel covering of the tooth crown or the cementum covering the root, and then the underlying dentin. As the destruction of the dentin progresses, along with breakdown of the organic components, the bacteria invade the dead tissue and enter the pulp chamber. The pulpal tissue becomes infected, and the typical toothache may ensue. Ultimately, the infection can destroy the pulpal tissue and extend out through the apical openings of the roots and into the surrounding periodontal tissues. With proper oral hygiene, including the use of fluoride, dental caries can be largely prevented. See also: Bacteria; Dentistry; Fluorine; Medical bacteriology; Microbiology; Mouth disorders; Periodontal disease; Tooth; Tooth disorders

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