childhood caries and caries risk assessment

Question 1

results of childrens dental health survey 4

Answer 1

• improvements in decay in permanent teeth
• no improvement in primary teeth
• no improvement in care index
• no changes in regional differences

Question 2

6 factors of caries risk and explain

Answer 2

• medical history (sugar medicine, physical handicap)
• social history (family influence, education, diet, dental attendance)
• dietary habits (sugar type, frequency, with meals)
• clinical evidence (age/ location of caries, fissure sealants, ortho)
• plaque control (infrequent/ ineffective cleaning, poor manual control)
• use of fluoride (water, toothpaste, no supplements)

Question 3

7 preventive strategies of caries

Answer 3

-diet
-fluoride
-fissure sealants
-OH
-prevention of maternal transmission of s mutans
-Recaldent (CPP-ACP, casein phosphopeptide – amorphous calcium phosphate)
(-radiographs)

Question 4

define early childhood caries

Answer 4

presence of 1 or more decayed (noncavitated/cavitated lesions), missing (due to caries) or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in a child 71 months or younger

Question 5

most common type of ECC

Answer 5

bottle caries

Question 6

which teeth are UNAFFECTED by bottle caries and why

Answer 6

lower anterior teeth. protected by tongue

Question 7

cause of bottle caries/ preventive methods

Answer 7

• high sugar content in bottle is cariogenic and long periods of exposure if child has bottle at night, + low salivary flow at night
• no sugar in milk/ on dummy, replace milk with water in bottle gradually, don’t let child sleep with bottle

Question 8

how each tooth type affected by bottle caries

Answer 8

• maxillary anteriors: rampant canines
• posterior teeth: affected later
• lower anteriors: unaffected, protected by tongue
• canines: less affected due to later eruption

Question 9

6 consequences of ecc

Answer 9

• higher risk of new carious lesions
• increased treatment cost/time
• risk of delayed physical growth/ development
• loss of school days, inc days with restricted activity
• diminished oral health related quality of life
• hospitalisation/ emergency room visits

Question 10

6 methods of ecc prevention

Answer 10

• reducing parents/ siblings s mutans levels to reduce transmission of cariogenic bacteria
• minimise saliva-sharing activities
• implement OH levels
• avoid high freq consumption of foods containing sugar
• encourage infants to drink from cup by 1yo
• weaning from bottle 12-18 months

Question 11

7 ways to manage ecc

Answer 11

• cessation of habit
• dietary advice
• fluoride application
• build up of restorable tooth
• extractions if required
• appropriate advice about ecc (do not blame!)
• often tx under GA is required

Question 12

other cause of ecc other than bottle caries and why

Answer 12

prolonged at will breast feeding, contains 7% lactose

Question 13

principles of caries risk assessment

Answer 13

-tx of disease process rather than outocomes- anticipates caries progression/ stabilisation

Question 14

5 properties of good toothbrush

Answer 14

-electric is better, but in a manual:
-small head
-soft round-ended filaments
-compact, angled arrangement of long and short filaments
comortable handle

Question 15

6 factors of children of LOW CARIES RISK

Answer 15

• fluoridated drinking water
• teeth brushed at least 2x daily with 1000+ppm F toothpaste
• regular dental care
• child is caries free
• fewer than 4/5 food contacts/day
• diet low in cariogenic foods/drinks

Question 16

6 factors of children of HIGH CARIES RISK

Answer 16

• low socio-economic status
• poor OH practices
• medically compromised
• child has previous caries experience
• 3 or more between meal sugar contacts/day
• night time drinks containing sugar