Dental Calculus Flashcards
_______ is mineralized plaque that forms on the surfaces of natural teeth and dental prostheses.
Dental Calculus
What are the two types of dental calculus?
Supragingival
Subgingival
How do supra- and sub- gingival calculus differ based on their color?
Supragingival: white/whitish-yellow
Subgingival: Dark colored
In what case could supragingival calculus present itself as dark-colored?
If it were previously subgingival and then tissue recession caused it to become supragingival
________ calculus has a clay-like consistency; whereas, ______ calculus is hard and dense.
Supragingival
Subgingival
Which type of calculus is commonly found adjacent to the opening to salivary ducts?
supragingival
True or False: Supragingival plaque is easily detached from the tooth surface.
true
Does subgingival calculus extend to the base of pockets and contact the JE?
No, it extends to the base of the pocket but does not reach the JE
What are four methods used to detect dental calculus?
- Tactile exploration (11/12 explorer)
- Dental Radiographs- sometimes
- Blast of Air to open margins
- Color of the overlying gingiva
If thick enough, how does dental calculus present itself on a dental radiograph?
calculus “spurs” can be seen in the interproximal spaces
How can calculus be detected with air-drying?
Pointing the air into the open margin will cause gingiva to pull away from the tooth surface and expose calculus
Dental calculus represents a _______ product of infection, not a cause of periodontitis.
secondary
Clinically, subgingival calculus is most frequently diagnosed using which method?
Tactile exploration
How does calculus attach (two ways)?
- Underlying pellicle calcifies and attaches to tooth
2. Penetration of surface irregularities
Where does mineralization of calculus begin?
bacterial colonies or ECM
What are the four forms of calcium phosphate?
- Brushite (B)
- Octa calcium phosphate (OCP)
- Hydroxyapatite (HA)
- Whitlockite (W)
Which form of calcium phosphate is found in calculus that is less than two weeks old (NEW) and is the basis for supragingival calculus formation?
Brushite
Which form of calcium phosphate is predominant in exterior layers and forms platelet-like crystals?
OCP (octa calcium phosphate)
Which form of calcium phosphate is predominant in inner layers of OLD calculus and forms rod-like crystals?
Hydroxyapatite
Which form of calcium phosphate forms hexagonal crystals and is the most common form in subgingival calculus?
Whitlockite
True or False: Caculus is the etiological agent of periodontitis.
FALSE! it is not the etiological agent
Does roughness of calculus initiate gingivitis?
NO! roughness increases the ability for bacteria to attach but does not directly cause gingivitis
Why is calculus removed?
because of its plaque retentive nature and because it keeps plaque in close proximity to tissues (holding active species near tissue causes inflammation)
