A revised classification of carious lesions by site and size.

The present classification used by the profession for the identification of carious lesions was devised by Black about 100 years ago. It was based, in part, on the location of the lesion but was modified to take into account the materials that were available for restoration. Over the last 20 years, there has been considerable modification of these materials; adhesion between the restoration and tooth structure is now possible, and the understanding of the relevance of fluoride and other ions in the prevention and repair of caries has improved. It would be logical at this time to adopt a new classification based on the site of the carious lesion and the extent to which it has progressed. More relevant detail could be recorded for each restoration, and this would be of value both for personal records and epidemiologic studies. The proposal is a simple digital system that is compatible with the use of computers for record keeping.