Oral and Craniofacial Health and Disease (OCHD) Practice Test

Chronic caries progress slowly over time, often affecting a smaller number of teeth or surfaces compared with lesions that advance rapidly. The slow pace means these lesions may persist longer, sometimes show reparative responses in dentin, and frequently cause less acute pain because the pulp isn’t being rapidly invaded. This contrasts with acute caries, which progresses quickly and involves more teeth, and with arrested caries, where progression has stopped. Caries is not limited to the elderly; it can occur at any age. So the description of a slow rate of progression affecting fewer teeth best matches chronic caries.