Caries Symposium Flashcards
what is a caries risk assessment?
the risk of the patient developing new/progressive disease in the future
what are GENERAL caries risk factors typically based on?
socioeconomic factors
what are general caries risk factors?
- social
* general health
what are local caries risk factors?
- oral hygiene
- diet
- fluoride experience
- past caries experience
- orthodontic treatment
what are the 7 elements of caries risk?
- clinical evidence
- dietary habits
- social history
- fluoride use
- plaque control
- saliva
- medical history
what is DMFT?
decayed missing & filled teeth (adult)
what is dmft?
decayed missing & filled teeth (children)
what is meant by DMFT > 5 ?
higher caries risk
what things can increase a persons caries risk?
- previous caries experience
- orthodontic appliances
- prosthetics
what dietary indication can suggest high caries risk?
- greater than 3 sugar intakes
* eating highly processed/refined carbs are more cariogenic
what is the most cariogenic sugar?
sucrose!
what is the SIMD category?
scottish index of multiple deprivation
what are the 7 domains that the SIMD looks at?
- income
- employment
- education
- health
- access to services
- crime
- housing
what social aspects make someone a higher caries risk?
- education
- unemployment
- SIMD category
- work stressors
- single parent families
- violence
- inequalities & access to healthcare
- dependants
what does fluoride do?
• incorporation into enamel crystal to form FLUOROAPITITE which is more caries resistant
what oral hygiene habits can make someone more high caries risk?
- poor technique
- irregular brushing
- unassisted (very young/very old)
- access to toothpaste/toothbrush
- difficulty due to changes (mixed dentition/orthodontics/gaps)
what is a lack of saliva known to cause?
caries!
what is meant by the buffering capacity of saliva?
the ability of saliva to neutralise acid
what is xerostomia?
dry mouth!
what is mucosititis?
lots of ulceration and fragile mucosa
what are the typical social aspects of a high risk caries child?
- mother’s education secondary school only
- poor dental attender
- single parent family/low social class/unemployed parents
what are the 8 elements of prevention of caries?
- radiographs
- toothbrushing
- strength of fluoride in toothpaste
- fluoride varnish
- fluoride supplementation
- diet advice
- fissure sealants
- sugar free meds
what things are required for development of caries?
- bacteria
- time
- tooth surface
- plaque
what is a biofilm?
organised bacterial population
what are white spot lesions?
demineralisation of the enamel
how do white spot lesions occur?
due to a loss of inter-rod regions & the thickness of crystallises is reduced
how does an active white spot lesion appear on an SEM?
surface appears rough
how does an inactive white spot lesion appear on an SEM?
surface appears smooth
why should a dentist NOT poke a white spot lesion with a probe?
can cause enamel to collapse
why is sealing root caries particularly difficult?
there is no enamel to attach restoration to
what are some risk indicators for caries in children?
- oral hygiene
- diet
- bacterial exposure
- socioeconomic status
- breast/bottle feeding
- fluoride exposure
- parental oral health status
- parental smoking
what is a typical cause of nursing caries?
inappropriate use of feeding cups and bottles
what should be recommended to parents once their child has reached 6 months old?
use of a feeding cup (free flow spout) rather than a bottle
what are the only safe drinks to have between meals?
plain water or milk
If a high caries risk child is taking medicine, what should be requested?
sugar free medicines (taken at meals & never after tooth brushing)
what are examples of good snack ideas to minimise likelihood of caries?
- cheese
- milk/water
- crackers
- bread sticks
when should tooth brushing begin in an infant?
as soon as the first primary teeth erupt
In ppm, what should the fluoride content of child toothpaste (ages 4-16) be?
1000ppm - 1500ppm
what is the standard fluoride (in ppm) of toothpaste?
1400-1500ppm
what is the fluoride content of duraphat toothpaste?
2800ppm
what should the fluoride content of toothpaste be for high risk children 10 and over be?
2800ppmF
what should the fluoride content of toothpaste be for high risk patients aged 16 and over?
5000ppmF
how often & what type of radiographs should be taken for high risk children?
bitewings every 6 months
how often & what type of radiographs should be taken for low risk children?
bitewings every 12-18months
