-In older individuals, where gingival recession has occurred, exposure of the root surfaces may create a caries problem.  In these areas caries may be limited or in some cases penetrate the tooth structure at a faster rate than on enamel.  Thus assessment and rapid treatment is critical in these patients.

-Patients should be classified similar to coronal caries and be assessed similarly.  Caries active and not active status should be determined as in enamel caries.

-Just as in white spot lesions of the enamel, this lesion begins as non-cavitated and is demineralized.   At this point, a remineralization protocol, similar to that used on enamel, can be used.

-In these cavitated lesions, once the patient's ms level is controlled, resin reinforced glass ionomers should be used.

-Thus, the protocol for root caries is similar to that for coronal caries.

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