An important mission statement for modern dentistry is to maintain patients' implants and teeth for a lifetime. As a corollary, a standardized dental caries risk classification should provide the basis for evidence-based specific therapies. This paper proposes that interproximal caries lesions, also termed "restorative invasion," which destroys natural anatomical tooth structure with periodontal and occlusal sequelae, is a key factor in the cascade of destruction of the dentition and periodontitis. Thus it can serve as the basis for caries risk assessment. The standardized Dental Risk Classification system proposed here can provide a basis for therapeutic modalities as well as for public health assessment and insurance reimbursement. Keywords: dental caries, oral health, periodontitis, preventive dentistry, risk assessment, side effects, xerostomia