Caries on the dental root involve destruction of the cementum and penetration of the dentine. They can be graded based on the degree of severity.
Features:
(1) surface defect
(2) surface texture
(3) pigmentation
Grade
Surface Defect
Surface Texture
Pigmentation
I (incipient)
none
soft, can be penetrated by dental explorer
light tan to brown
II (shallow)
< 0.50 mm in depth
soft or irregular, rough, can be penetrated by a dental explorer
tan to dark brown
III (cavitation)
cavitation >= 0.50 mm in depth, no pulpal involvement
soft, can be penetrated by a dental explorer
light brown to dark brown
IV (pulpal)
deeply penetrating with pulpal or root involvement
brown to dark brown
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Specialty: Otolaryngology, Nutrition
