Dental Infections

Question 1

adults have how many teeth? mouth divided into?

Answer 1

32 teeth. four quadrants: upper/lower, left/right

Question 2

name of teeth from middle front tooth to wisdom tooth

Answer 2

central incisor, lateral incisor, canine, 1st then 2nd premolar, 1st, 2nd, 3rd molars (3rd = wisdom tooth)

Question 3

6 teeth surfaces

Answer 3

gingival (gum). mesial. distal. incisal (anterior). occlusal (posterior). buccal (cheek)

Question 4

4 parts of tooth anatomy

Answer 4

enamel (hardest, outside). dentin (softer, prone to decay). pulp (nerve + blood vessels). cementum (covers root surface)

Question 5

teeth are close to ___? consequences?

Answer 5

maxillary sinuses. sinus infection = tooth pain. tooth infection can travel in veins to brain

Question 6

streptococcus mutans: gram? aerobic or not? metabolizes what and does what?

Answer 6

gram + anaerobe. metabolizes sucrose to lactic acid. adheres to teeth = plaque

Question 7

tooth decay is multifactorial: depends on 4?

Answer 7

time, host/teeth. microbes. substrate

Question 8

early childhood caries: definition?

Answer 8

presence of one or more decayed, missing or filled teeth in any primary tooth in a pre-school aged child aka between birth and 6 years

Question 9

periapical abscess: what?

Answer 9

complication of tooth decay: opening in enamel and dentin allows bacteria to infect pulp

Question 10

what bacteria involved in periapical abcess

Answer 10

strict anerobes are the most pathogenic

Question 11

ludwig’s angina: what?

Answer 11

type of cellulitis that involves inflammation of tissues of floor of mouth, under tongue - swelling can compromise airway = surgical emergency

Question 12

ludwig’s angina: management?

Answer 12

surgical emergency. antiboitics. protect airway

Question 13

periodontitis: what

Answer 13

condition characterized by deconstruction of soft tissue and bone that supports teeth = gum disease

Question 14

pericoronitis: what?

Answer 14

inflammation of gingiva around a partially erupted tooth - debris accumulates underneath tissue that covers tooth = infection. usually around wisdom teeth

Question 15

pyogenic granuloma

Answer 15

local infection of gum tissue, usually the product of continued gingival irritation - staph aureus

Question 16

atrophic candidiasis: caused by? what?

Answer 16

opportunistic infection by candida albicans - usually a commensal organism

Question 17

cavernous sinus thrombosis

Answer 17

rare but fatal outcome after dental infection in maxilla - cavernous sinus = large collection of thin walled veins in brain, surrounds cranial nerves