Caries: aetiology and presentation Flashcards
what is the definition of dental caries?
Dental Caries is a progressive irreversible bacterial disease of the teeth exposed to the oral environment.
Why is the disease irreversible?
Enamel and dentine are not cellular, they have no blood supply and apart from secondary dentine formation there is no natural repair of decayed tissues.
How is an active carious lesion normally treated?
The only practical way of dealing with the damage and arresting the process is by excising the infected tissue and restoring it by the use of artificial materials.
What type of process causes damage to teeth in caries?
What tissues are affected?
The disease is basically a demineralisation process in which enamel and dentine are destroyed, opening a path for bacteria to reach the underlying tissues.
This causes infection and inflammation of the pulp and subsequently of the periodontal tissues
what are the 4 requirements for caries development?
1- sugar
2- bacteria
3- tooth surface
4- time
what microbial study was there that related bacteria to caries?
Orland 1954, showed caries did not develop in animals reared in sterile (germ-free) environment
What are the most potent bacterial mediators of dental caries?
-the most potent mediators are strains of acid producing streptococci.
What are the main types of bacteria in caries and what do they each do?
Strep. mutans: prefer acidic environments-rich in sugar.
The are involved in the initiation of caries, especially in pits and fissure caries.
Lactobacilli: they are acidogenic and produce lactic acid
They are involved in the progression of caries
Actinomycetes: found in rampant caries
Which tooth surfaces are susciptible to caries?
- Pits and fissures
- Smooth surfaces - especially
- interproximally
- Root surfaces
What are the types of caries that exist?
- Primary
- Secondary/Recurrent
- Residual
- Rampant
- Cavitated/non cavitated
- Active/Inactive
