Enamel homeostasis & the development of caries Flashcards
Give some examples of tooth mineral loss by mechanical wear (3)
- Attrition (grinding)
- Abfraction (acid+chewing)
- Abrasion
Define primary caries
Lesions on unrestored surfaces
Define secondary caries
Lesions adjacent to fillings
Define residual caries
Demineralised tissue left behind before a filling is place
Define active caries
Caries that is considered to be progressive
Define arrested caries
Caries that is no longer progressing
What is a white spot lesion?
First sign visible by naked eye, usually visble with strong white light
What is a brown spot lesion?
Usually an inactive white spot lesion discoloured by the uptake of dye
What is rampant caries?
Multiple active carious lesions in the same patient
What is hidden caries?
Caries that are usually in dentine and only detectable by radiography
Why do the earliest visible lesions appear as chalky white spots?
As micropores appear in the enamel surface which scatter light to give off a white appearance
Explain subsurface demineralisation
Acid from the bacteria leach past tooth surface and start demineralising the sub surface to eventually erode away the enamel surface
What happens to the Ca2+ concentration in saliva when pH of the mouth drops to 4?
What is the benefit of this change occur?
- Vastly increases
- To protect the enamel surfaces
How are calcium levels in the saliva so rapidly increased during a cariogenic attack?
- At normal pH: Calcium binding salivary proteins hold onto Ca2+.
- At acidic pH: The proteins undergo changes to allow the release of these Ca2+ molecules
Name some salivary proteins related to tissue maintenance (4)
- Proline-rich proteins
- Histidine-rich proteins
- Cysteine-rich proteins
- Tyrosine-rich proteins
