Caries and oral biology

Question 1

what does brushing do to plaque

Answer 1

it does not remove it, but rather it disrupts it so that it is no longer cariogenic

Question 2

why is there mineral loss in subsurface enamel but not in the surface enamel when there is a white spot lesion

Answer 2

the organic acid present on the plaque will penetrate the lesion and remove the mineral content. this surface will be receiving the ions from saliva so there is remineralisation on the surface, but there is not enough time for the sub surface enamel to be remineralised as well.

Question 3

why should white spot lesions not be probed

Answer 3

the enamel is not supported and will break down as soon as you probe it. this is why white spot lesions cannot be probed

Question 4

how does acid etching affect the enamel rods

Answer 4

the acid etches the surrounding portion of the rod in the inter rod region. the side of enamel rods is more prone to acid, and when there is etching the rods themselves are left in tact. it is the interred crystallites that lose the mineral content in the etching.

Question 5

describe the SEM image of white spot lesions

Answer 5

porous structure of the rods, interrods are lost

Question 6

how can you tell if a white spot lesion has been arrested

Answer 6

they will be further from the gingival margin where plaque would be found, meaning the lesions are arrested.

Question 7

when preparing a cavity, how will you know if the odontoblasts have been lost

Answer 7

there will be bleeding. the blood vessels lie below the odontoblast layers so if there is blood then that has been breached.

Question 8

which restorative material is used on the root and cervical region lesions

Answer 8

glass ionomer

Question 9

which elements impacting chance of infection can lead to change in caries risk

Answer 9

social class
income
knowledge
attitudes
behaviour
education