Caries Risk Assessment (also for patient care) - EXAM 2 Flashcards
What is the definition of cariology?
The study of caries and cariogenesis
What is the definition of caries?
decay, in bone or teeth
- BACTERIAL disease
- Leads to demineralization of inorganic components
- Leads to destruction of organic components
What type of disease is dental caries?
- INFECTIOUS disease
- MANAGEABLE disease
- PREVENTABLE disease
What are the requirements for caries?
- Susceptible host
- Bacteria
- Food Source
- Time
What is the hypothesis for plaque?
◦Biofilm is responsible for the disease
◦Plaque is pathogenic when disease is present
◦Specific Microbes are the cause
◦Strep Mutans
What is the definition for biofilm?
Community of bacteria, bacterial by-products, extracellular matrix, and water
Accumulation of biofilm on teeth is ________ ORGANIZED
HIGHLY
Normal saliva biofilm made up mostly of…
Strep sanguis and Strep mitis (non-pathogenic)
What begins caries formation?
Strep Mutans
Lactobacillus
What lives in pits and fissures?
◦Simple streptococcal bacteria
What lives on the root surfaces?
◦Complex bacterial community
◦Mostly filamentous and spiral bacteria
Caries does have a ___________ component
genetic
Dentist has a responsibility to help the patient overcome the _________ component of caries
genetic
Caries formation is a constant battle between…
DEMINERALIZATION and REMINERALIZATION
What causes demineralization?
-Bacteria living in plaque feed off “leftovers”
-Bacterial waste product is ACID
-Acid demineralizes enamel
-Phosphates and Calcium are lost
What causes remineralization?
-Saliva rinses away sugars
-Saliva buffers acids
-Minerals in saliva (calcium, phosphate) re-enter tooth
-Presence of fluoride facilitates process
A CARIOUS LESION occurs when:
Demineralization is greater than Remineralization over time
What does hydroxyapatite demineralizes at pH at?
below 5.5
What leaves the enamel when it gets demineralized?
calcium, phosphate ions
What does a carious lesion progression look like?
- =demineralization
- =white spot lesion
- ->cavitation
What does fluorapatite (enamel with fluoride) demineralize at?
Demineralizes at pH below ~4.5
What does dentin demineralize at?
Dentin demineralizes at ~6.2 pH
__________ activity removes the organic portions of dentin
Proteolytic
What are remineralization besties?
- Saliva
- Plaque removal
- Diet modification
- Fluoride
What are the functions of saliva?
- Buffers
- Cleanses
- Antibacterial
- Calcium and Phosphate Ions
What acts as a buffer in saliva?
Bicarbonate ion HCO3−
◦Raises pH to non-demineralizing levels
How many liters of saliva is produced to flush away organisms a day?
1-1.5L/day
What are the antibiotic salivary proteins?
lysozome, lactoperoxidase, lactoferrin, agglutini