Dental Caries Flashcards
What is the definition of dental caries?
Bacterial disease of the calcified tissue of teeth characterized by progressive-irreversible demineralization of inorganic and destruction of organic substance of the tooth.
What are the essential factors required for the etiology of dental caries?
- Dental plaque
- Cariogenic (acidogenic) bacteria
- Susceptible tooth surfaces
- Fermentable bacterial substrate (sugar)
- Time
What are the intrinsic factors contributing to dental caries?
- Composition
- Morphology
- Position
What are the extrinsic factors related to diet that contribute to dental caries?
- Physical factors: unrefined (natural) food leads to less caries
- Local factors: diet content of carbohydrates, calcium, fluoride, and vitamins
How does saliva contribute to caries prevention?
- Increases ammonia decreases caries
- Normal pH (6.2-7.6) or alkaline pH is better
- Quantity: Xerostomia increases caries
- Viscosity increases caries
What is dental plaque?
A biofilm of bacteria embedded in an extracellular polysaccharide matrix.
What is the role of bacteria in dental caries?
- Utilizes carbohydrates to form acid that decalcifies tooth structure
- Polymerizes monosaccharides to form the dense plaque matrix
Which bacteria are most important in the initiation of early enamel caries?
Streptococcus mutans.
What are the clinical presentations of pit and fissure caries?
- Early caries: brown and probe sticks
- Undermined enamel: bluish white borders that fracture under stress
How does smooth surface caries present clinically?
- Early stages: chalky white spots
- Progression: yellowish pigment
What defines nursing bottle caries?
Rampant caries affecting deciduous teeth in babies due to prolonged use of milk.
What are the features of arrested caries?
- Shiny hard surface
- May be brown in color
- More resistant to acid attack
- Regarded as scar tissue
What is the management for arrested white spots?
- Topical Remineralization Products
- Resin Infiltration (Icon)
- Microabrasion
- Veneers or Bonding
- Bleaching
What is eburnated dentine?
Hard brown polished surface of dentine that does not catch the probe.
What are the zones of early dentine caries?
- Zone of fatty degeneration of Tomes fibers
- Zone of dentinal sclerosis
- Zone of demineralization
- Zone of bacterial invasion
What is the significance of dead tracts in dentine caries?
Empty dentinal tubules resulting from degeneration of odontoblasts and their processes by bacterial acid irritation.
What are liquefaction foci in late dentine caries?
Ovoid foci filled with necrotic debris resulting from the local coalescence and breakdown of dentinal tubules.
True or False: Lactobacilli bacteria are most active during the initial stages of demineralization.
False
Which factors must NOT be present in order for a carious lesion to form?
Saliva protective factors.
True or False: Neutral pH minimizes remineralization while acidic pH increases it.
False
What is the mechanism of action of fluoride that does NOT apply?
Enhances demineralization.
Describe features of late dentin caries.
Formation of liquefaction foci and transverse clefts.
Define occult caries.
Hidden or occult caries that may not be visible until advanced.
What is rampant caries?
Rapidly progressive caries that involve many or all of the teeth with early pulp involvement.
