dental caries Flashcards
dental caries definition
an infectious microbiological disease of the teeth that results in localized dissolution and destruction of the calcified tissues
what causes caries?
how can caries be prevented?
how does decay alter tooth tissue?
how can we diagnose caries?
how can we treat early lesions without operative intervention?
how can we treat advanced lesions by removing decayed tooth structure without damaging healthy tooth structure?
dental diseases are related to:
tooth biofilm
process of tooth biofilm build up
- initial colonization by pioneer species
- outgrowth: colonies form and grow up and out
- secondary colonization and multiplication: increase diversity, plaque is invaded by bacteria, cell density decreases and replaced by polymers
what does oral hygiene accomplish? does it remove all microorganisms?
- thins biofilm
formation of a mixed microbial community
the plaque environment affects its development and the type of clinical condition it causes
- as time goes on and as conditions change, so does the bacterial population
caries producing plaque
- the plaque builds up on the teeth
- proteins in saliva stick to enamel
- bacteria attach to the pellicle that is formed
- bacteria secrete carb matrix
- complex community forms plaque
** S. mutans colonizes teeth
streptococcus mutans can
- transmit from mother to baby when first primary teeth erupt at 6 months
- attaches to teeth not mucus membranes
how can transmission be prevented?
how does S. mutans vary among individuals?
everyone has S. mutans but the difference is between caries-free and caries-active subjects
(levels vary)
what is considered high count of S. mutans
10^6
S. mutans can survive in what kind of environment?
acidic environment (virulence factor)
- S. mutans stores sugars
How does S. mutans take over the plaque?
If you feed it
effects of sugar consumption with S. mutans
- they ingest sugar and produce acid
- 6 carbon sugar to 3 carbon acid
- acid kills other bacteria
- S. mutans tolerates low pH
- it increases plaque
saliva flow to protect enamel
- acts as pH buffer and presence of calcium and phosphate in saliva
- proteins attach to and stabilize pellicle
low saliva states:
- radiation treatment
- many drugs that affect nerves and autoimmune diseases of the salivary glands
- must have low saliva when sleeping
how do you prevent caries?
tell patient to avoid eating sugar and carbs before bedtime and must brush before going to sleep
when is saliva secreted?
during meals, gustatory stimuli can cause very high flow rate
what kind of medications influence salivary flow?
- some that impact nervous cardiovascular function reduce salivary flow:
- BP pills
- heart pills
- happy pills
- sad pills
