Biochemical events in Dental Plaque Flashcards

1
Q

Ultimately what causes caries?

A

Bacteria

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2
Q

How would you describe the structure of dental plaque?

A

Highly organised structure

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3
Q

What is the water and solid composition of dental plaque?

A
  • 80% water

- 20% solid

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4
Q

20% of plaque composition is solid. What is this ‘solid’ made up from?

Give the compositions of these.

A
  • 50% Bacterial and salivary proteins
  • 25% Carbohydrates and lipids
  • 25% Inorganic components
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5
Q

What are the carbohydrates and lipids in the dental plaque synthesised from?

A

Synthesised by the bacteria in the plaque

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6
Q

What is plaque fluid?

A

Extracellular aqueous phase of dental plaque

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7
Q

In nL how much plaque fluid can be found in a 500 μg wet weight plaque sample?

A

150 nL

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8
Q

What can changes in ionic composition of plaque fluid lead to?

A

Cariogenic conditions

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9
Q

What is rested plaque fluid?

A

Plaque fluid one to several hours after eating

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10
Q

What is starved plaque fluid?

A

Plaque fluid following overnight fasting

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11
Q

Which plaque fluid contains more amino acids? Rested or Starved?

A

Rested plaque fluid

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12
Q

Which plaque fluid is more acidic? Rested or Starved?

A

Rested plaque fluid

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13
Q

What is the main acid involved in caries formation?

A

Lactic acid

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14
Q

What contributes to the extent of pH drop after glucose challenge? (5)

A
  • Type and amount of sugars available
  • Bacteria present
  • Salivary composition and flow
  • Other food ingested
  • Thickness and age of dental plaque
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15
Q

What is the resting plaque pH of a caries-inactive patient?

Compare this to a patient that is caries-prone

A

Resting pH roughly 6.5 - 7

Caries-prone has a lower resting pH

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16
Q

What affects the metabolic properties of plaque?

A

Bacterial composition affects metabolic properties of plaque

17
Q

Which type of sugars cause the most dental caries?

A

Small sugars such as monosaccharides

18
Q

What are the 3 ‘fates’ of pyruvate?

A
  • Ethanol
  • Lactic acid
  • Further oxidation to return to citric acid cycle
19
Q

What determines the fate of pyruvate?

A

The different types of bacteria

20
Q

List some cariogenic bacteria (3)

A
  • Streptococci
  • Actinomyces
  • Lactobacilli spp
21
Q

Define Acidogenicity

A

The ability to produce acid rapidly from fermentable carbohydrate

22
Q

Define Aciduricity

A

The ability to survive and continue to produce acid at acidic pH