ABSTRACT
Dental caries is a significant oral health issue and public health concern. Currently conceptualized as a dynamic and multifactorial process, caries is a continuum of disease stages, during which tooth damage may be reversed or controlled, depending on lesion progression. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System, when used in conjunction with the Lesion Activity Assessment (ICDAS-LAA), reflects the dynamic caries process and allows the classification of cavitated lesions according to their severity and progression, which is essential to selecting the appropriate treatment. This case report describes the diagnosis and treatment of a patient who had caries in the past and in whom old lesions remained untreated. The ICDAS-LAA was used to assess caries accurately and guide treatment decisions. The patient maintained a dietary journal for 2 weeks to help establish her risk of developing caries. Treatment involved a minimally invasive dentistry approach, which consisted of remineralization via fluoride applications, placement of a composite resin restoration, microabrasion, and periodic maintenance. During the 28-month follow-up period, rigorous control of caries risk factors was achieved, and the results were satisfactory, demonstrating the effectiveness of the ICDAS-LAA in diagnosing and managing carious lesions.
