Dental Hygiene Flashcards
What is a plaque?
A biofilm generally due to strep bacteria
What is periodontitis?
Inflammation of the gum
Toxins can form pockets below surface of gums, damaging muscle fibres, causing tooth to become mobile
What is gingivitis?
Reversible inflammation of the gum
Why do caries occur?
When both bacteria and sugar are present, loss of CaPO4 occurs due to acid production in the bacterial breakdown of sugar
Why does bacteria accumulate?
Shielding from shear forces on the approximal and fissure surfaces of teeth
What are pellicles?
Thin films of glycoproteins on teeth and gums
Why do cavities form?
Bacteria attach to pellicles
What is the main feature of S oralis?
Bridging species allowing multiple types of bacteria to attach
What are early caries?
Small white spots of demineralisation that are reversible
What is erosion?
Demineralisation due to gastric acid
Which bacteria are acid tolerant?
Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli
What kind of bacteria cause periodontitis?
Gram negative
What kind of bacteria cause caries?
Gram positive
How is veillonella useful?
Breakdown lactic acid for its own use, reducing risk of caries
What is necrotising periodontitis?
Underlying systemic infection
What are the features of necrotising periodontitis?
Severe pain
Halitosis
Grey pseudomembrane on gingivae
What bacteria is associated with necrotising periodontitis?
Aggregatibacter leukotoxin
Spriochaetes
Fusebacteria
What is aggressive periodontitis?
Potentially inherited neutrophil disorder
What antibiotics are used in aggressive periodontitis?
Amoxicillin
Metronidazole
Tetracycline
What can predispose to aggressive periodontitis?
Diabetes, impaired healing
HIV, presence of opportunistic pathogens
Group A strep infections
Give examples of mechanical plaque control.
Brushing
Flossing
What antibiotic is used as dental prophylaxis?
Metronidazole
What are the features of fluoride?
Found in water supplies at 1ppm concentration
Influences remineralisation
Can inhibit metabolism of plaque forming bacteria
What is the main ideal feature of antimicrobials in oral health products?
Should bind to mucosa due to short contact time
What is substantivity?
Ability of agents to be adsorbed to the mouth and slowly released back and redistributed around the mouth
What forms is chlorhexidine available in?
Mouthwash
Gel
Varnish
What is chlorhexidine?
Broadspectrum antimicrobial
Mutans strep is very sensitive
What is triclosan?
Borad spectrum phenol
Inhibits gram negative anaerobes
What is the mode of action of triclosan?
Zinc inhibits sugar acid production
Inhibits fatty acid metabolism
What do dextranases and glucanases do?
Modify plaque
What do glucose oxidase and amyloglucosidase do?
Boost the salivary peroxidase system
How does quaternary ammonium improve oral health?
Inhibits glycan synthesis disrupting membrane integrity
How do metal ions improve oral health?
Inhibit bacterial glycolysis
Zinc lactate inhibits VSC synthesis
Stannous fluoride inhibits caries
How does arginine improve oral health?
Salts increase pH of the mouth
Blocks dental tubules
What can be used as oral probiotics?
Non pathogenic mutans streptococci
How do essential oils improve oral health?
Disrupt cell membranes
