Caries

Question 1

What 4 things do you need for caries?

Answer 1

-Saliva -Diet -tooth microbiota

Question 2

Describe Stephan’s curve

Answer 2

Shows plaque pH after eating and recovery Below 5.5 demineralisation Above 5.5 = remineralisation

Question 3

Describe the process leading to a carious tooth (flow diagram)

Answer 3

You need bacteria biofilm and a fermentable carbohydrate which leads to acid production and the demineralisation/remineralisation balance

Question 4

Describe the progression of caries after the bacteria adhere to the tooth.

Answer 4

• Streptococci etc adhere to the surface of a tooth
• they survuve and grow to form a biofilm
• Then forms a complex plaque with lots of different bacteria
• the plaque produces acid leading to caries

Question 5

Streptococcus mutans has a clear link with caries. What factors/virulence factos does it have that makes it a good pathogen?

Answer 5

• produces glucans
• EPS/sucrose metabolisms
• has attachment mechanisms (GTS, Ag I/II)
• greater acidogencitiy than competitors
• ecological competitiveness at low pH (has the ability to maintain micrpbial growth and to cotinue acid producation in sites with a low pH)
• genomic characteristics (can modulate behaviour)

Question 6

Other than sucrose, what are other cariogenic foods?

Answer 6

Carbohydrates

e.g. crisps, biscuits

Question 7

How can carbohydrates be cariogenic?

Answer 7

• retentive in the mouth (stick to tooth)
• are broken down into sugars and acid

The oral retention is the main factor

Question 8

Are the bacteria or diet more important in caries aetiology?

Answer 8

Diet

Question 9

Describe inter-oral variation

Answer 9

Our mouth isnt a homogenous group of bacteria

there are massive variations between person to person and depending on the environment at the time

Question 10

There is a wide spectrum of microbial flora assocoiated with caries. What are some (excluding strep mutans)?

Answer 10

Veillonella (almost ubiquitous)

S. salivarius, lactobacillus

Question 11

Oral bacteira can also be found in other disease. What diseases?

Answer 11

• Alzheimers
• CVD
• rheumatoid arthritis
• cystic fibrosis
• esophageal cancer
• diabetes
• pancreatic cancer

Question 12

What oral bacteria can be found in rheumatoid arthritis, CVD, pancreatic cancer and alzheimers?

Answer 12

P. gingivalis