Background
A lesion on an occlusal tooth surface with no cavitation and no radiographic radiolucency, but where caries is suspected due to surface roughness, opacities, or staining can be defined as a suspicious occlusal carious lesion (SOCL). Our objective was to quantify the characteristics of SOCLs and their relationship to lesion depth/activity after surgically opening these lesions.
Methods
Ninety-three dentists participated. When consented patients presented with a SOCL, information was recorded about the tooth, lesion, treatment(s) done and, if the SOCL was opened surgically, its lesion depth. The Rao-Scott cluster-adjusted chi-square test was used to evaluate associations between lesion depth and color, roughness, patient risk, and luster.
Results
1593 SOCLs were analyzed. Lesion color varied from yellow/light brown (40%) to dark brown/black (47%), with 13% other color. A majority (69%) of SOCLs had a rough surface when examined with an explorer. Over 1/3 of the SOCLs (39%) were treated surgically. Of the surgically treated SOCLs (n=585), 61% had dentinal caries. There were statistically significant associations between lesion depth and color (p=0.03), luster (p=0.04) and roughness (p=0.01). 52% of patients were classified as being at elevated caries risk. There were no significant associations between lesion depth and patient risk (p=0.07).
Conclusion
Although statistically significant, the clinical characteristics studied do not provide accurate guidance for making definitive treatment decisions, and result in high rates of false positives.
Practical implications
Given that 39% of opened lesions did not have dentinal caries or were inactive, evidence-based preventive management is an appropriate alternative to surgical intervention.