Table 6.

The pathoanatomical features of the enamel and dentin in active and arrested lesions[60]

	Visual	Tactile
Enamel
Active	The lesion is whitish/yellowish; the lesion is chalky (lack of luster); the lesion can be cavitated or not	The lesion feels rough to probing; probing might or might not find cavity
Arrested	The lesion is more yellowish/brownish than whitish; the lesion is more shiny than matte; the lesion can be cavitated or not	The lesion feels more smooth than rough; probing might or might not find a cavity
Coronal dentine
Active	The lesion may manifest itself but demineralized enamel; if a cavity extends into the dentine, the dentine appears yellowish/brownish	Dentine soft to probing
Arrested	The lesion may manifest itself as a shadow below the intact but demineralized enamel; if a cavity extends into the dentine, the dentine appears brownish	Harder than at the active lesion but not as hard as sound dentine
Root dentine
Active	Yellowish/brownish	Soft/leathery
Arrested	Brownish/blackish	Harder but not as hard as sound root dentine