Which term describes demineralization of tooth hard tissue without cavitation (white spot lesions)?

• A. Inactive/arrested caries
• B. Recurrent caries
• C. Active non-cavitated caries
• D. Acute caries

Answer: (C)

White spot lesions are the initial, non-cavitated stage of caries where enamel demineralization occurs but the surface remains intact. The best term for this scenario is active non-cavitated caries because it describes lesions that are actively progressing toward cavitation without yet having formed a cavity. If the lesion were arrested or inactive, it would indicate that demineralization has ceased and the surface is stable, even though it might appear permanently бел or brownish. Recurrent caries refers to new decay occurring around a restoration, and acute caries denotes a rapidly advancing lesion with cavitation, not a non-cavitated white spot.