White spot lesions progress into cavities that are initially yellow if not managed. Which option best describes this progression?

• A. They remain white spots
• B. They progress into cavities that are initially yellow
• C. They remineralize spontaneously
• D. They convert to fluorosis

Answer: (B)

White spot lesions are early enamel caries where minerals are lost beneath an intact surface. If the acid attack continues and remineralization doesn’t occur, the lesion deepens and a cavitation forms as the enamel structure breaks down. When this cavitation first appears, the exposed, demineralized tissue often looks yellowish due to the way the porous enamel and underlying dentin reflect light and take up stain. This explains why the progression is described as cavities that are initially yellow. Remineralization can reverse white spots, and fluorosis would not describe a caries progression to cavitation.