ICDAS: International Caries Detection and Assessment System

ICDAS: International Caries Detection and Assessment System[/caption]

Definition

ICDAS is a simple, evidence-based system for the detection and classification of tooth decay in dental training, clinical practice, dental research and public health.

Evaluation

Code 0 No visible caries after drying.

Code 1 First visual change of the Enamel (visible only after prolonged air drying or limited to the limits of a pit or a crack).

Code 2 Significant visual changes in the melting surface already on the damp tooth, with pseudo-intact surface such as e.g. white lesion (see Enamel Caries).

Code 3 Local enamel crack (without clinical visual signs of dentin involvement).

Code 4 Underlying dark shadow of the dentin, with or without Enamel.

Code 5 Clear cavity with visible dentin.

Code 6 Extensive clear cavity with visible dentin (more than 1/2 of the tooth surface, the pulp may be affected.

References

• World Health OrganizationOral health surveys: basic methods (4th ed.), World Health Organization, Geneva (1997).
• I. Ismail, W. Sohn, M. Tellez, A. Amaya, A. Sen, H. Hasson, et al. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS): an integrated system for measuring dental caries Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 35 (3) (2007), pp. 170-178.
• N. Pitts"ICDAS": an international system for caries detection and assessment being developed to facilitate caries epidemiology, research, and appropriate clinical management community Dent Health, 21 (2004), pp. 193-198