Which description corresponds to active caries with an intact surface (Score 1)?

• A. Enamel cavity easily visible with a dull and rough surface; deep undermined area.
• B. Surface enamel is whitish/yellowish opaque with loss of luster; feels rough when tip of probe is moved gently across surface; no clinically detectable loss of substance.
• C. Surface enamel is brown and shiny with smooth feel; there is loss of substance.
• D. Cavity not detectable.

Answer: (B)

Active caries with an intact surface is an early, noncavitated lesion where the enamel surface remains whole but shows changes from demineralization. You’ll see a color change in the enamel (whitish or yellowish opaque) and a dull, loss of luster, with the surface feeling rough when lightly probed. Importantly, there is no actual loss of tooth substance yet—the surface isn’t cavitated.

The description that matches this best is the one where the enamel surface is whitish/yellowish opaque with loss of luster and feels rough on gentle probing, with no clinically detectable loss of substance. This reflects an active subsurface lesion beneath an intact surface.

The other descriptions point to cavitation or no lesion at all: a visible cavity with a dull, rough surface and deep undermined areas indicates a cavitated lesion; a brown, shiny surface with loss of substance implies cavitation; and a scenario with no detectable cavity means no lesion present.