Calculus- a clinical perspective Flashcards
Define calculus
Mineralised plaque
alcifying or calcified deposits attached to the surfaces of teeth or other solid structures in the oral cavity
What are the 2 main categories calculus I split into?
- Supragingival calculus
2. Subgingival calculus
Where is supra gingival calculus found?
Located coronal to the gingival margin
Where is supra gingival calculus mainly distributed?
Distributed adjacent to salivary duct openings
Where ares salivary duct openings found?
Lingual of lower anteriors
Buccal upper molar
Where is sub gingival plaque found?
Located apical to the gingival margin
Where is subgingival plaque mainly distributed?
It can be distributed anywhere in the mouth
Where d the calcium and phosphate minerals that calcify calculus come from?
They come from:
- Saliva (supragingival calculus)
- GCF (Subgingival calculus)
What type of crystals are found in supra gingival calculus?
- Hydroxyapatite
- Octacalcium phosphate
- brushite (new supra)
What type of crystals are found in sub gingival calculus?
magnesium whitlockite
Describe the crystals fond in supra gingival calculus
Small needle shaped or large ribbon shaped crystals
Describe the crystals fond in sub gingival calculus
Small crystals
Name the 2 mechanisms by which calcification can occur
- Epitactic
2. Booster
Where is does the mineral content for supra gingival calculus come from?
37% Minerals come from saliva by volume
Which minerals are found more in subgingival calculus than supra gingival?
Ca Mg F Sr Zn
Which minerals are found more in supragingival calculus than sub gingival?
Carbonate and Mg
Following a scale and polish how long may I take for supra gingival calculus to reform?
Can reform within days
Where is does the mineral content for sub gingival calculus come from?
58% mineral comes from GCF by volume
Describe the crystal growth within subgingival calculus
Tends to be heterogeneous nucleation and crystal growth
Following a scale and polish how long may I take for supra gingival calculus to reform?
Theres slower growth as there’s fewer non calcified micro organisms
Why can supra gingival calculus being to reform within days of a scale and polish in comparison to subginigval calculus?
As supra gingival calculus has more non caclcifie micro organisms and more filamentous
What did Roberts-Harry’s study show in regards to mineral composition in Indo-Pakistani adults?
Showed they had lower levels of sodium in apical than coral subgingical calculus
They also had lower levels of sodium ad magnesium in apical samples in comparison to Caucasian samples
What hypothesis did Roberts-Harry reach following their findings regarding ethnic variation in mineral composition
That decrease substitution go M fo calcium in Indo-pakistani adults. This will reduce the dissolution of Mg and make subgingival calculus more tenacious and difficult to remove
Describe the appearance of supra gingival calculus
Creamy white colour
May be satin in smoker