Table 1.
The codes and descriptions of the hierarchical CAST instrument
| Characteristic | Code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 0 | No visible evidence of a distinct carious lesion is present |
| Sealant | 1 | Pits and/or fissures are at least partially covered with a sealant material |
| Restoration | 2 | A cavity is restored with an (in)direct restorative material |
| Enamel | 3 | Distinct visual change in enamel only. A clear caries related discolouration is visible, with or without localised enamel breakdown |
| Dentine | 4 | Internal caries-related discolouration in dentine. The discoloured dentine is visible through enamel which may or may not exhibit a visible localised breakdown of enamel |
| 5 | Distinct cavitation into dentine. The pulp chamber is intact | |
| Pulp | 6 | Involvement of the pulp chamber. Distinct cavitation reaching the pulp chamber or only root fragments are present |
| Abscess/Fistula | 7 | A pus containing swelling or a pus releasing sinus tract related to a tooth with pulpal involvement |
| Lost | 8 | The tooth has been removed because of dental caries |
| Other | 9 | Does not correspond to any of the other descriptions |