Diagnosis is important for three reasons:

2

• It forms the basis for a treatment decision. Active lesions require some

form of active management whereas arrested lesions do not.

• Informing the patient. The patient is central to the management of the

carious process. It is the patient who will control the process, not the pro-

fessional. The dentist’s role is to inform the patient whether any action is

required.

• Advising health service planners. Epidemiological surveys inform the politi-

cians who commission them of the state of health and disease of the popu-