Table 1 Description of CAST codes
Characteristics | Code | Description | Concept of health |
|---|---|---|---|
Sound | 0 | No visible evidence of a distinct carious lesion is present | Healthy |
Sealed | 1 | Pits and/or fissures are at least partially sealed with a sealant material | |
Restored | 2 | A cavity is restored with a (in)direct restorative material | |
Enamel | 3 | Distinct visual change in enamel only. A clear caries discolouration is visible with or without localised enamel breakdown | Reversible premorbidity |
Dentin | 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 | Morbidity |
5 | Distinct cavitation into dentine. The pulp chamber is intact | ||
Pulp | 6 | Involvement of pulp chamber. Distinct cavitation reaching the pulp chamber or only root fragments are present | Serious morbidity |
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 | Mortality |
Other | 9 | Does not correspond to any of the other categories | Â |