Dentistry Flashcards
Describe dentine
Bulk enclosing the pulp cavity
Similar to bone composition
Capable of some regeneration
Describe cementum
Thin covering found on roots
Provides anchorage for the periodontal ligament on the root
Describe pulp
Composed of sensory nerves, arteries, veins, lymphatic capillaries and connective tissue
Contained in the pulp cavity (crown) and root cavity (root)
Describe the periodontal ligament
Anchors root of tooth to alveolar bone - mild movement
Suspensory and shock-absorbing
Sensory innervations: pressure and pain
Describe the gingiva
Epithelial tissues and connective tissue around the tooth
Barrier for external environment
Kittens and puppies should have all deciduous (baby) teeth by when?
6 weeks
Describe enamel
Pearly white outer layer of crown
Hardest substance in the body but not regenerative
Protects dentine from temperature changes
When damaged -> increased plaque retention
Why should you always asses occlusion of the jaw when the animal is conscious?
Sedatives will relax the jaw and render the test useless
What should you asses when doing a conscious dental exam?
Assessment of body condition (anorexia could indicate dental problem)
Examination of head (facial symmetry, palpate facial bones and muscles, palpate LNs and salivary glands, asses eye position and TMJ)
Occlusion (jaw lengths, teeth occlusion)
Oral exam (periodontal disease- calculus, gingivitis, tooth mobility, gingival recession; missing teeth; examine soft tissues eg tongue, pharynx)
Give the gingivitis index scale
0= no inflammation 1= mild gingivitis: mild reddening and swelling of gingiva, but no bleeding when probed 2= moderate gingivitis: gingival inflammation with reddening and swelling, will bleed when probed
What are the normal values for periodontal probing depth in dogs and cats?
Dog: 1-3mm
Cat: 0.5-1mm
How do you asses periodontal probing depth?
Insert periodontal probe into gingival sulcus and take measurements at 4-6 locations around the tooth
How do you measure gingival recession?
Measure from the cemento-enamel junction to the free gingival margin
Use a periodontal probe
How do you do a periodontal index?
What are the grades?
Periodontal probing depth + gingival recession 0= no attachment loss 1= up to 25% attachment loss 2= between 25-50% attachment loss 3= greater than 50% attachment loss
Describe the stages of furcation exposure
0: no furcation exposure
1: furcation felt with periodontal probe. Bone loss 1/3 of the width of the furcation
3: periodontal probe ca be placed through the furcation from Buccal to palatal side
Give the grades for tooth mobility
0: physiologic mobility of 0.2mm
1: mobility of >0.2mm but 0.5mm but 1.0mm
Which probes are used in SA dentistry?
Dental explorer probe (no6): right angled and straight
Periodontal probe (no14): pocket-measuring probe
Fine seeker probes: determine very small pulp canal exposures in fractured teeth
What is the difference between an elevator and a luxator?
Both used to extract teeth
Luxators are thinner and thus sharper
Elevators are thicker with a with a slightly bowed shoulder on the back side
Why would you recommend an owner to brush their pets teeth every 2 days?
This is how long it takes mature plaque to form
What is the gingiva divided into?
Free gingiva
Attached gingiva
Gingival sulcus
What does alveolar bone consist of?
Periosteum
Cancellous bone
Compact bone
Cribriform plate
What is plaque?
A biofilm: aggregation of microorganisms
- Pellicle: acellular film of salivary glycoproteins/ polypeptides and lipids
- Gram positive aerobic bacteria (consume O2)
- Mature plaque: gram negative anaerobic bacteria (formed in 48 hours, reaches maximum harm potential in 7 days)
What is calculus?
Calculus= scale= tartar = mineralised plaque
Able to mineralise due to the high levels of minerals in saliva
What is gingivitis?
Inflammation of the gingiva, secondary to plaque accumulation
Stages:
-Marginal gingivitis: free edge of the gingiva
-Suculus colonisation of anaerobic bacteria
-Inflammation: bacterial enzymes, immune response
Reversible
What is periodontitis?
Inflammation and destruction of the periodontal tissue -> attachment loss of the tooth
Develops in the periodontal pocket
Irreversible
Define periodontal disease
Plaque-induced inflammation (gingivitis and periodontitis)
Inflammatory and destructive condition affecting the support tissues of the teeth
Give some predisposing factors to periodontal disease
Breed: brachycephalics, malocclusions. Greyhounds, Maltese, Somali cats
Immune status: immune compromised= faster and more severe disease
Developmental defects: retention of deciduous teeth
Body mass: less body mass= higher risk
Diet: soft food reduces mechanical abrasion of the teeth (?)
What are the three skull types? Give a breed example for each
Brachycephalic (pug): skull as wide as it is short
Mesocephalic (German Shepherd): pyramid-shape head
Dolichocephalic (greyhound): skull in the shape of an elongated cone
How should normal occlusion appear?
‘Scissor bite’
Interdigital ion of canines and premolars
What is malocclusion?
Any deviation from the features of a normal occlusion/bite
- Skeletal abnormalities
- Dental defects
- Soft tissue trauma
- Abnormal tooth contact
What is brachygnathism?
‘Overbite’
Mandible is too short relative to maxilla
Could be due to underdeveloped mandible, or maxilla may be too long (overgrown)
What is prognathism?
Mandible is too long relative to maxilla
Maxilla might be too short (boxer)
Describe the disease process of periodontal disease
- Plaque formation
- Deepening of the sulcus (secondary to inflammation of junctional epithelium)
- Proliferation of subgingival plaque (increased anaerobic microflora)
- Toxins lead to tissue damage
- Continued attachment loss
- Tooth loss (junctional epithelium separates from tooth -> periodontal pocket -> osteoclastic resorption -> loss of alveolar bone -> tooth mobility