Dental Conditions Flashcards
Why do some people underestimate the value of their teeth?
•not enough education
•too expensive so can deter some/not enough time to make an appointment
•some people may not have many problems with their teeth or may not see any obvious problems
•don’t value oral health as much as their physical health
As well as undervaluing their teeth, many can’t access dental care. Why is this?
•too expensive
•long nhs waiting list for appointments
•regional areas = north east is more expensive than south west so more likely to avoid the dentists
•language barriers (important to use non-verbal communication/use of pictures and models)
•disability/long term health problems makes it hard to go see the dentists (obese people only have access to the dentist in a hospital due to the need of bariatric chair)
What do you know about gum disease?
•It is an infection of the gums, which is usually caused by a build up of plaque (bacteria build up) due to poor oral hygiene
•factors that increase risk= smoking, diabetes (poorly regulated can cause higher blood sugar in mouth liquids = more bacterial growth)
•symptoms:
*red, swollen and tender gums
*painful chewing
*loose/sensitive teeth
*gums that have pulled away from teeth
What do you know about how diabetes affects the teeth?
•When diabetes cannot be regulated properly, it can cause high blood sugar levels in the fluids around the mouth. This is the ideal environment for bacterial growth, which can cause build up of plaque =
*tooth decay
*gum disease
•less saliva so a dry mouth which can cause mouth to feel sore/lead to ulcers and infections
•thrush=fungal infection that can cause painful white patches in your mouth
What do you know about oral cancer?
•type of cancer in the mouth, gums, tongue, lips + throat
•main causes:
*tobacco, heavy alcohol use, HPV
•risk factors:
*poor diet (read= article https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8071138/)
* Chronic rubbing from dentures, fillings, or rough teeth
•symptoms:
*red/white patches, ulcers, or lumps in mouth/tongue
Treatment:
*early detection= cured 9/10 cases so it is important to visit the dentist regularly/detected by them and they can teach you how to detect it yourself
*advanced= immunotherapy
What do you know about preventative dentistry?
•maintains good oral health by
*regular checkups to identify problems early
*brushing/flossing regularly prevents caries,gum disease etc.
*personalised advice and tailored plans (educating patient e.g shown in the traffic light system)
Could you tell me a little more about root canal treatment?
Article= https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21759-root-canal
•dental procedure used to treat an infection in the centre of the tooth (pulp)
•pulp may come under bacterial attack if = deep cavity/ cracked tooth and bacterial plaque infects the pulp
•dental dam is placed to keep tooth dry
•small hole drilled in crown and nerves, blood vessels inside pulp are removed
•it is disinfected and a gutta percha added/filling/crown
What do you know about amalgam?
Non-scientific terminology = silver filling
•made up of mercury and silver alloy
•no evidence of harmful side effects but can cause some release of mercury = only toxic in very high levels
•it is very durable (compared to amalgam) and hence cost effective
•The European Parliament has voted to ban dental amalgam from January 1, 2025= may cause more stress to the NHS/reduce access
One of the biggest problems to teeth is smoking. What do you know about this?
•it causes many oral problems=
*gum disease = harder to heal
*nicotine and tar in tobacco can cause teeth staining
*smoking is one of the main causes of mouth cancer
•but effects of smoking can be reduced by improving oral health
•other things cause more problems e.g alcohol, bad diet
Do you think we should ban tobacco in the UK?
Yes=
• smoking related illnesses cost the nhs £17 billion a year
•prevents poverty as it reduces addiction
•reduces environmental damage e.g less pollution release to the atmosphere
https://theweek.com/news/science-health/957026/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-total-smoking-ban
No=
•would cause the sales of tobacco to go underground = in the black market where products are not regulated and no tax
•people should have autonomy over own life/choices
What are the differences between composite and amalgam?
•composites from plastic /glass mix that can match teeth colour, amalgam from metals
•amalgam are more durable and can last upto 15 years so more cost effective
•material used depends on location, size of cavity and budget
What is a crown and what are they made of?
•crown is a tooth shaped cap that can be placed over damaged tooth or for cosmetic reasons
•different materials based on location, biting surface and budget =
*porcelain/ceramic match tooth colour to put at the front
*metals e.g gold/silver are strong and durable = suitable for molars
What determines the survival of a tooth?
•amount of tooth remaining e.g a tooth with a large cavity that reaches the tooth pulp is unlikely to be saved
•shallow pockets and severe bone loss can cause tooth to be lost more easily
•e.g during a root canal treatment, survival of teeth can be impacted by if a crown restoration occurs and the quality of the filling
•age, income can also effect survival rate
What can be done if a tooth has died?
•root canal to remove the dead pulp and replaced it with a plastic like material and then place a crown over it
•tooth extraction/ can be replaced with a bridge,denture or implant
(Tooth infection from a dead tooth can spread to surrounding teeth, gums and bones= more pain and problems so immediate action should be taken)
Do you think the cultural attitude towards dentition has changed?
•media influence = it has caused more to seek cosmetic dental procedures to improve the appearance of e.g smile
•rural and urban disparities where dental anxiety can become more enhanced in some areas
•many cultures have own traditional remedies e.g homemade toothpaste which is important for dentists to understand to provide tailored advice
https://tamiamidentalcenter.com/how-do-cultures-impact-oral-hygiene/#
How does alcohol affect the oral cavity?
•alcohol metabolises into sugars which means more bacterial growth which increases risks of caries/tooth decay and gum disease
•can stain tooth enamel which produces stains that are often challenging to remove
•one of the main causes of mouth cancer is linked to excessive alcohol consumption
Give risk factors for oral cancer
•heavy use of alcohol/smoking
•HPV has been linked to cancer
•poor nutrition
•and as you age (over 40) risks of cancer can increase
•Chronic rubbing from dentures, fillings, or rough teeth due to ill fitted dentures
Describe how you would tell a patient that their tooth needs to be extracted.
•translate complex medical info into simpler terms the patient can understand/incorporate both verbal and non-verbal communication
•empathetically explain why this is the best course of action= reduce pain/improve oral health, why it is the best course of action and explain how the tooth will be extracted
•give them a solution to fix any problems they may have = anaesthetic can be used/ more medication if dental phobia/dentures, bridges can be fitted
What is periodontal disease?
•bacteria infection of tissues around the teeth
•over time= bone loss around teeth which can cause loose teeth
•treat but cannot be cured = bring to a state of stability and then maintain it
What are your thoughts on amalgam?
•controversial ongoing debate about the effects of the mercury in amalgam and it has been phased down due to the minamata treaty that aims to reduce mercury release to the environment
•use of amalgam has already been decreasing as composite is preferred to conserve as much tooth as possible
•still very useful as it can treat caries cheaply and effectively as it it long-lasting (caries is one of the most prevalent disease). Deemed safe by many organisations except for pregnant/under 15
•ban on it from the 1st Jan 2025 = many have said this could cause a competere break down of nhs dentistry e.g composite much more expensive and not as long lasting
What are your views of water fluoridation?
Pros:
•no solid evidence on harmful effects but instead there is evidence of it having reduced no. of caries (as it can help reduce acid that bacteria produced)
•cheap and effective public health measure to tackle widespread chronic problem of caries and can strengthen developing tooth enamel for the young = long-term preventative method
Cons:
•people see it as mass medication, taking away their autonomy of what they can ingest
•excess fluoride exposure when teeth are developing can cause fluorosis (brown staining of teeth) = cannot control how much water is drank/fluoride is present in many different sources e.g food
What do you know about acid erosion
•irreversible loss/wear of enamel from things such as fizzy drinks and acid reflux over a long period of time
•very sensitive teeth/ yellow teeth
•can help by educating patients on improving lifestyle and diet e.g drinking less fizzy drinks/don’t brush teeth straight after vomiting
•can be signs of other health problems such as bulimia, acid reflux etc.
What are some common dental treatments you know?
•fillings are very commonly used as caries are one of the many global diseases. It can be filled with either amalgam or composite (move towards composite due to amalgam ban in 2025)
•root canal treatment is where infected pulp tissue is removed and the canals are filled and sealed with a material to prevent further bacterial contamination = I viewed one and was able to gain some of this knowledge by talking to the dentist after the procedure. I saw how intricate of a procedure it was and it needed upmost concentration and manual dexterity, which parallels my hobby of doing acrylic nails
