Dentistry Key Topics Flashcards
List the 7 phases of a damaged tooth
Intial insult
Acute inflammation
Chronic inflammation
Atrophy of pulp
Necrosis of pulp tissue
Death of canal
Abscess formation
Why does a fractured tooth need dental radiography?
To confirm or rule out pulp exposure and to assess periapcial pathology.
What is abrasion?
Rubbing a tooth against an object
What is attrition?
Wear from tooth on tooth due to malocclusion
What is the gold standard treatment to check abrasion/attrition?
Probe these teeth with an explorer to ensure it can’t stick into the pulp.
Radiograph to check the roots are normal
Why would a tooth discolour?
Blunt trauma
Why would a tooth discolour?
Blunt trauma
How may a discoloured tooth progress?
The pulpitis may be temporary.
The tooth dies due to disrupted blood supply.
What to do with a discoloured tooth?
Whole tooth/majority of the tooth is discoloured = root canal or extraction.
Only localised/minor discolouration.
List two complications of fractured teeth
Chronic pain
Tooth root abcess
What is the mixed dentition period?
The period during which both deciduous and permenant teeth are present.
Why are deciduous teeth whiter?
Thier enamel is less mineralised.
How do deciduous teeth exfoliate?
Root resorption
When are deciduous teeth a problem?
Retained/persistent deciduous teeth past the normal time of shedding (6 months)
Fractured deciduous teeth
Malocculsions
How should fractured decidous teeth be treated?
They should be extracted like any fractured tooth
