Ch. 2 Dental Decay or Dental Caries Flashcards
One of the most common diseases throughout the world
Dental decay/caries
What are dental caries
-INFECTIOUS, PROGRESSIVE DISEASE THAT
AFFECTS THE DENTAL TISSUE, WITH DENTAL
TISSUE LOSS
What is characteristic to the advanced stages in dental caries? (2)
- cavities can affect permanent and primary teeth
- affects external dental tisues and root canal (dental pulp)
What happens during tooth decay?(2)
- demineralization of hard tissues (enamel, dentin, cementum)
- destruction of organic matter
What are the hard tissues (3)
- enamel
- dentin
- cementum
Is there enamel on the root? What other tissues can we find?
no
dentin & cementum
What is the organic matter of the tooth?
-pulp
How many stages of dental decay are there?
5
Another term for dental decay?
Caries
What occurs during stage 1 of dental decay?
- whiteish enamel
- white spot
- demineralization of enamel
- incipient carious lesion
What is reversible during the progression of decay? (2)
- white stains are reversible
- stages 1 & 2
What occurs during stage 2 of dental decay?
irregularities in the enamel
What occurs during stage 3 of dental decay?
Cavity of the dentin
-tissue lost cannot be regenerated
Which stage in dental decay is irreversible?
3-5
What occurs during the 4th stage of dental decay?
- destruction of crown
- pulp affection
What occurs during the 5th stage of dental decay?
Pulp necrosis
What causes cavities? (4)
- susceptible tooth
- time
- sugar
- bacteria
How do bacteria cause caries? (2)
- acidogenic bacterial
- colonize tooth in presence of fermentable carbohydrates
- convert carbs to acids through glycolytic fermentation
What are fermentable carbs? (3)
- sucrose
- fructose
- glucose
What makes an individual susceptible to different degrees?(3)
- shape and position of teeth
- oral hygiene habits (accumulation of dental plaque)
- buffering capacity of saliva
What is the name of the bacteria causing caries?
streptococci mutans
What oral hygiene habits remove plaque? (4)
- proeper brushing and flossing
- mouthwash
- waterpick
- interdental brushes
What can prevent caries? (3)
- oral hygiene
- diet modification
- flouride treatments
- sealants
Caries develop in acidic or basic environments?
acidic
What diet modifications help with caries preventation?
- minimizing chewy & stick foods
- increase protective food (cheese)
- minimize snaking
How do flouride treatments help with caries prevention?
recalcifying tooth enamel
Where can we find flourides for dental care? (4)
- barnish
- gel
- mouthwashes
- toothpaste
How do sealants help with caries prevention?
avoid food being trapped inside
How do we diagnoses caries? (2)
- exploration with a mirror
- X-rays (bitewing)
What do we never use for the diagnosis of caries?
panoramic X-ray
What can we see with dental X-rays?
- interproximal caries
- extension
- pulp affection
What are the intraoral radiographs? (2)
- bite-wing x rays
- periapical x-rays
What are bite-wing x-rays used for?
- Caries diagnosis
- crowns posterior teeth, molars + premolars
What are periapical x-rays used for?
- in endodontics
- entire length of each tooth (Crown to root)
What are extraoral radiographs?
-panoramic x-rays
What are panoramic x-rays used for? (4)
- film outside mouth
- teeth, jaw, skull
- growth and development
- impacted teeth
