Which statement best describes signs of root caries?

Which statement best describes signs of root caries?

• A. Plaque, Sticky Surface, Surface Layer May Or May Not Be Present, Acid Dissolution is Faster Under Higher pH
• B. Plaque Only
• C. Surface Layer Absent
• D. Acid Dissolution Slower Under Higher pH

Answer: (A)

Root caries signs reflect how plaque-generated acids demineralize dentin at the root surface. The most evident signs are the buildup of plaque and a sticky, soft surface on the root. In addition, you can have a surface layer that may be present or absent depending on whether the lesion is active or arrested. The key idea is that acid dissolution of dentin speeds up as the local pH drops (becomes more acidic), not as it rises. So the statement that dissolution is faster under higher pH is not consistent with the biology; the correct relationship is faster dissolution at lower pH. Among the options, the one that includes plaque, a sticky surface, and the surface layer being variable best matches what you’d observe clinically, with the pH part needing adjustment to reflect that acids act more quickly in acidic (low pH) conditions.

Root caries signs reflect how plaque-generated acids demineralize dentin at the root surface. The most evident signs are the buildup of plaque and a sticky, soft surface on the root. In addition, you can have a surface layer that may be present or absent depending on whether the lesion is active or arrested. The key idea is that acid dissolution of dentin speeds up as the local pH drops (becomes more acidic), not as it rises. So the statement that dissolution is faster under higher pH is not consistent with the biology; the correct relationship is faster dissolution at lower pH. Among the options, the one that includes plaque, a sticky surface, and the surface layer being variable best matches what you’d observe clinically, with the pH part needing adjustment to reflect that acids act more quickly in acidic (low pH) conditions.