Dental Infections

Question 1

of teeth in mouth

Answer 1

32

Question 2

Name the teeth

Answer 2

Central incisor, lateral incisor, canine, 2 premolars, 3 molars. 3rd Molar = wisdom tooth!

Question 3

Name the surfaces of the teeth!

Answer 3

Gingival = right at top touching gums
Lingual - tongue side of tooth
Buccal - Cheek side of tooth
Mesial - to the front of the tooth (towards central incisor… measure on one tooth)
Distal - towards the back of the tooth… away from front two!
Incisal = central incisor is incised to the canine
Occlusal = canine is occlusal to the central incisor

Question 4

Basic Anatomy of Teeth

Answer 4

• Enamel: Hard outer surface of tooth
• Dentin: Underneath enamel… softer than enamel, and thus more prone to decay
• Pulp: Nerve and blood vessels of teeth
• Cementum: Covers the root surface

Question 5

List factors that contribute to tooth decay and define how streptococcus mutans (+) causes tooth decay

Answer 5

• Strep. Mutans = big bacteria that causes tooth decay!!! Takes sugar that people eat and convert it to lactic acid… this decreases pH in the mouth! And can create a biofilm that can stick to teeth… Enamel demineralizes at pH below 5.5! mouth naturallay 6.5-7pH. If you eat something that is acidic and bacteria breaking it down.. pH will decrease! This casues demineralization.. and tooth breakdown.. luckily… saliva is produced and thus restores pH to normal!
• Decay also affected by diet, eating patterns, resistance of the tooth surface to plaque and salivary flow rate. Medication which dries out mouth can cause tooth decay…
• If you have candy… eat it all at once! Don’t eat it a few times each day! If you eat it all at once it will be better for you!!

Question 6

To define a periapical abscess, identify the pathogenic bacterial involved in a periapical abscess and list the complications associated with a periapical abscess

Answer 6

• Periapical Abscess - tooth that has decay… and then doesn’t get treated for whatever reason..bacteria goes from enamel.. to dentin.. to pulp tissue.. that beacteria will then travel to bone! Will cause really bad toothe ache! when bacteria breaks down tooth.. as bacteria goes into tooth… it gets softer.. thus spreads a lot FASTER as it gets deeper!
• potential complication of tooth decay.
• Bacteria involved… bacteroides, fusobacterium, peptococcus, peptostreptococcus, and viridans streptococci… don’t memorize…
• Complications: If not treated can… lose tooth, infection spread to soft tissue, jaw bone, other areas of body!, can be severe and even fatal complications!

Question 7

To define periodontal disease and its etiology

Answer 7

• AKA Gum disease.
• deconstruction of soft tissue and bone that supports the teeth
• foundation around teeth…
• caused by bacteria adhering to tooth surfaces (plaque), especially in areas under the gum line
• need to floss and brush!!!

Question 8

To define and be able to identify acute periodontal lesions periodontal abscess

Answer 8

• Periodontal lesions… inflammation of the gingiva around a partially erupted tooth. Debris can accumulate underneath tissue that covers the tooth… and without proper cleaning, the area can become infected. Very common around wisdom teeth!! Put person on antibiotics! Local infections of the gum tissue. Usually from debris/food! REfer to a dentist!

Question 9

Antibiotic Prophylaxis of Endocarditis

Answer 9

Give Amoxicillin 1 hour prior to dental appointment to prevent endocarditis