Caries
Pronunciation: KAIR-eez
A bacterially driven infectious disease that progressively demineralises tooth structure, commonly called tooth decay.
Full Definition
Dental caries is a multifactorial, biofilm-mediated, sugar-dependent infectious disease resulting in the demineralisation and destruction of hard tooth tissues (enamel, dentine, and cementum). It is both singular and plural in form — 'a caries lesion' (singular) versus 'caries lesions' (plural) — and editors must never write 'a carie' or 'caries are found'. The ICDAS (International Caries Detection and Assessment System) provides a standardized scoring system for lesion severity. Caries should not be confused with 'carries', a common typographical error in dental documents.
Usage
Usage note: 'Caries' is both singular and plural; 'a carie' is never correct. Watch for the typographic misspelling 'carries' in dictated or transcribed text.
In Context
- "Early caries lesions confined to enamel may be managed with fluoride remineralisation rather than restorative intervention." — Preventive dentistry guidelines
- "The dental record indicated active caries on the mesial surface of tooth 36." — Patient dental chart