Which term describes tooth decay (caries)?

Which term describes tooth decay (caries)?

• A. Cystocele
• B. Dental
• C. Cytology
• D. Cystourethroscopy

Answer: (B)

In medical terms, describing where a condition occurs uses a location word attached to the disease name. For tooth decay, the descriptor that specifies the location is dental, meaning relating to the teeth. When you pair this with caries—the term for decay—you get dental caries, the standard phrase for tooth decay. The other terms refer to different things entirely: a cystocele is a bladder prolapse into the vagina, cytology is the study of cells, and cystourethroscopy is a procedure to visualize the bladder and urethra. None of these describe teeth, so dental is the best descriptor for tooth decay.

In medical terms, describing where a condition occurs uses a location word attached to the disease name. For tooth decay, the descriptor that specifies the location is dental, meaning relating to the teeth. When you pair this with caries—the term for decay—you get dental caries, the standard phrase for tooth decay.

The other terms refer to different things entirely: a cystocele is a bladder prolapse into the vagina, cytology is the study of cells, and cystourethroscopy is a procedure to visualize the bladder and urethra. None of these describe teeth, so dental is the best descriptor for tooth decay.