Discoloration Lesion detection and severity assessment
First visible signs of
a caries lesion		 Established caries lesion Microcavity and/or localised enamel breakdown Dentin exposure
Score 1 Score 2 Score 3 Score 4
Sound surface No cavitations and/or discolorations are detectable.
White spot First white spot lesions are unobtrusive and will be detected after prolonged air drying (~5 seconds). White spot lesions are detectable without prolonged air drying. Air drying improves the assessment of the surface texture (smooth versus rough) Pathological enlargements are detectable with or without enamel breakdowns - visible as interruption of the surface continuity. No dentin exposure is evident. Enlargements > 0.5 mm (use the ball point of the CPI probe) may indicate a microcavity. Dentin exposure is detectable.
White-brown White-(caramel-) brown lesions will be detected with prolonged air drying (~5 seconds). Brown areas are in most cases visible without air-drying. White-(caramel-) brown lesions are detectable without prolonged air drying. Air drying improves the assessment of the surface texture, which indicates in most cases a rough lesion. The brown spot is surrounded by white demineralisations.
Brown (dark) Small brown spot lesions will be detected even without air drying. Brown discoloured lesions are always detectable without prolonged air drying.
Greyish translucency Not detectable