Dental Caries And Tooth Wear

Question 1

What are 3 factors involved in caries development?

Answer 1

1. Personal factor
2. Oral environmental factors
3. Direct factors that contribute to caries

Question 2

What personal factors can cause contribute to caries?

Answer 2

1. Education
2. Behaviour - oral hygiene
3. Income
4. Snacking

Question 3

What oral environmental factors can contribute to caries?

Answer 3

1. Use of fluoride
2. Chewing gum
3. Sugars - frequency
4. Ph
5. Saliva - flow rate

Question 4

What factors directly cause caries?

Answer 4

1. Tooth health
2. Diet - amount, frequency and composition
3. Plaque bacteria
4. Time

Question 5

What percentage of caries lesions are detected on the visible surfaces?

Answer 5

50% - this means half the lesions are not detected

Question 6

What are safe foods to eat in terms of caries?

Answer 6

1. Dairy products - milks, yogurt cheese
2. Fresh vegetables
3. Sugar free products
4. Nuts
5. Low sugar cereals

Question 7

Are non-nutritive sweeteners safe? (Low sugar products)

Answer 7

There has been small research into it and it seems to be safe with no increased longer term problems e.g. cancer

Question 8

What are diet sheets?

Answer 8

These are filled in by patient so the dentist can see what someone eats over a weeks

Question 9

How should a dentist use a diet sheet to combat caries?

Answer 9

1. Discuss how diet and dental disease are related explaining advantages of a lower sugar diet
2. Identify the sugars in the diet and try to offer lower sugar alternatives
3. Create a plan with small steps to make improvements, wrote it down and assess progress later appointment

Question 10

How does frequency of sugar intakes relate to tooth wear?

Answer 10

Frequent sugar intakes involves constant rising of oral Ph and a larger time period the mouth has a high Ph, this is the time when tooth wear happens

Question 11

What are the key dietary advices?

Answer 11

1. Reduce frequency if sugar intake
2. Reduce free sugars
3. Reduce dietary acids
4. Restrict sugars and acids to meal times

Question 12

What the the best ways to improve your diet?

Answer 12

1. Substitute snacks with low sugars alternatives
2. Change timing of unsafe items to meals times to reduce acid exposure
3. Having larger meals to lead too less snacking

Question 13

How must advice be given in order to increase patient motivation?

Answer 13

1. Giving individualised - tailored to patient
2. Give praise - can be difficult for some to change praise will keep them motivated, this also reinforces good behaviours and habits
3. Set small achievable goals- working to larger goal
4. Check up - if plan isn’t working alter it to better fit patient, don’t give up