Abstract:

Early diagnosis of occlusal carious lesions is crucial for preventive and minimally invasive dental care. Accurate diagnosis requires not only recognition of the lesion itself but also contextual evaluation of biological and behavioral determinants influencing the disease process.
The visual-tactile method remains the most widely used technique in caries lesion diagnosis. Various contemporary methods enhance the detection, assessment, and monitoring of these lesions beyond traditional examination. The use of adjunctive tools such as fiber-optic transillumination, laser fluorescence (DIAGNOdent), and fluorescence-based camera systems (quantitative laser fluorescence, Canary, VistaCam, Soprolife) offer unique advantages and limitations in assessing lesion presence, depth, and activity in order to enable preventive and minimally invasive clinical decisions without radiation exposure. The purpose of this review is to explore contemporary methods for diagnosing early carious lesions and their significance for preventive and minimally invasive interventions, while also evaluating the effectiveness and limitations of both traditional and modern diagnostic techniques.
Keywords: diagnosing methods, occlusal carious lesions, prevention