The ICDAS (International Caries Detection & Assessment System) : a new set of caries assessment criteria

A dental examination is a service performed by dentists in daily clinical practice. This is also performed as part of a group of dental examinations, such as school dental examinations and community health examinations. The Japan Association of School Dentists (JASD) criteria has been used for assessing dental caries in these examinations. These criteria evaluate caries on a scale of C1-C4. In an era when dental caries are pervasive, these criteria are useful. The application of fluoride has become a widespread practice for preventing dental caries in developed countries. The decrease in the incidence of dental caries in younger patients and the reduction in the progression of dental caries is attributed to these developments. The mean number of decayed, missing, or filled teeth among persons aged 12 in Japan is 0.84 (School Health Statistics in 2016), and an increasing number of persons have never experienced dental caries prior to adulthood. Therefore, the JASD caries diagnostic criteria are in need of an update. In response to this situation, caries researchers in the United States and other western countries, along with general clinicians proposed a new dental caries assessment system. This is in order to accurately assess white spots on the surface of the enamel, staining of pits and fissures, and early carious lesions that do not require dental restoration. This system which was named the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) is used to detect caries and assess their activity. In this paper we will discuss this new system