Caries Symposium Flashcards
What factors must be present for development of caries?
- tooth
- substrate/sugar
- acid
- time
What carbohydrate/sugar is the worst for development of caries?
sucrose
What are the 7 elements of caries risk?
- clinical evidence
- dietary habits
- social history
- fluoride use
- plaque control
- saliva
- medical history
What is a pts caries risk if they wear fixed orthodontics?
Immediately high risk
How many sugar intakes per day make someone high caries risk?
> 3 sugar intakes a day
What is SIMD?
Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation
- looks at the extent to which an area is deprived across seven domains
What are the 7 domains of SIMD?
- income
- employment
- education
- health
- access to services
- crime
- housing
What social history answers can give an indication of a patients being high caries risk?
- SIMD category
- education
- unemployment
- work stressors
- single parent families
- violence
- inequalities & poor access to healthcare
- dependents
How does fluoride lower a patients caries risk?
- incorporation into enamel crystal to form fluorapetite (more caries resistant than hydroxyapetite)
- its bacteriocidal
- interferes with adhesion force of bacteria reducing ability to stick to tooth
How can saliva give us an indication of a patients caries risk?
- amount (oral dryness may cause caries)
- buffering capacity
- pH
- viscosity (too thick is bad as cannot flow well)
What are the 8 elements of caries prevention?
- radiographs
- toothbrushing
- strength of fluoride in toothpaste
- fluoride varnish
- fluoride supplementation
- diet advice
- fissure sealants
- sugar free medication
Why do white spot lesions occur?
Loss of mineralisation of enamel
- loss of inter-rod regions
- thickness of crystallites reduced
On SEM, how does an active white spot lesion appear?
ROUGH (vs inactive which appears smooth)
Why is sealing root caries difficult?
No enamel to bond onto
When giving advice to new mothers, what should be discussed regarding diet & nutrition?
- use a feeding cup with a free flow spout
- NO SUGARY DRINKS in bottle (especially at night)
- sweet drinks/snacks at meal times only & diluted/through straw
- sugar free medication if possible
Give some examples of “safe snacks” that you could advise for your pts?
- milk/water
- fruit (natural sugar so be careful)
- crackers
- cheese
- bread sticks