There are two possible definitions of the word "carious," depending on the context:
In dentistry, "carious" refers to a state of decay or deterioration in a tooth, typically caused by bacterial infection. A tooth that is carious may be discolored, sensitive to heat or cold, and/or painful.
In general medical usage, "carious" can refer to any type of decay or erosion in bone tissue. For example, osteomyelitis (inflammation of bone) can sometimes result in the formation of carious lesions.
