Dental Calculus

Question 1

Define a dental calculus.

Answer 1

Mineralized plaque that forms on the surfaces of natural teeth and dental prostheses.

Question 2

Supragingivally, calculus is ___ or ___ and has a ___-like consistency. It can be easily detached from tooth surface.

Answer 2

white; yellow; clay

Question 3

Supragingival calculus is commonly found opposite ___ ducts, such as the ___ aspect of mandibular ___ teeth and ___ aspect of maxillary ___ molars

Answer 3

salivary; lingual; anterior (incisors); buccal; first

Question 4

Subgingival calculus is hard, dense and ___ colored. With ___ ___, subgingival becomes supragingival.

Answer 4

dark; gingival recession

Question 5

T/F. A subgingival calculus will extend to the base of the pocket but does not reach the JE.

Answer 5

True.

Question 6

T/F. Calculus alone causes disease.

Answer 6

False, calculus alone doesn’t cause disease, plaque causes disease.

Question 7

What techniques can be used to detect calculus?

Answer 7

1. tactile exploration
2. dental radiographs
3. a blast of air to open gingival margin
4. color of the overlying gingiva

Question 8

On radiograph detection, what name is given for calculi?

Answer 8

spurs (found in the interproximal)

Question 9

How does air drying help detect subgingival calculi?

Answer 9

Air, as it dries, will pull the gingival away from the tooth and expose the calculus.

Question 10

T/F. Calculus represents a primary cause of periodontitis.

Answer 10

False, Calculus represents a secondary product of infection and NOT a primary cause of periodontitis.

Question 11

Dental calculus attaches ___ (loosely/firmly) to the tooth surface because the ___ beneath the bacterial plaque also calcifies. What three structures does the pellicle attach?

Answer 11

firmly; pellicle

cementum; enamel; dentin

Question 12

Calculus can also penetrate surface irregularities and lock to the tooth. List some of those irregularities.

Answer 12

1. caries
2. exposed root cementum
3. previous insertion of Sharpey’s fibers (fibers loss due to attachment loss)
4. root resorption

Question 13

What are the four crystals of calcium phosphate found in a calculus?

Answer 13

1. brushite
2. octa calcium phosphate
3. hydroxyapatite
4. whitlockite

Question 14

Match each crystal with their role.

1. brushite
2. octa calcium phosphate
3. hydroxyapatite
4. whitlockite

A. Predominant in inner layers of old calculus and forms rods or sand-grain like crystals
B. Predominant in exterior layers and forms platelet like crystals
C. Basis for supragingival calculus formation and seen in recent (

Answer 14

1. • C
2. • B
3. • A
4. • D

Question 15

Does the roughness of calculus initiate gingivitis?

Answer 15

No

Question 16

Calculus keeps ___ in close proximity to tissues and is removed due to it ___ retentive nature.

Answer 16

plaque; plaque