EXAM 1 Intro to Cariology Flashcards
what are dental caries lesions?
- lesions that occur due to activity within plaque that covers a toth
- a multifactorial process of demineralization and concurrent remineralization, and are often reversible
dental caries lesions are considered signs and symptoms of what?
metabolisms with plaque
where can dental caries lesions occur?
enamel, dentin, or cementum
what can happen in the biofilm is left undisturbed for a period of time on any tooth surface?
a caries lesion may form
what is dental plaque?
- a biofilm
- an active community of microorganisms that work together
what are signs and symptoms?
the effects of the metabolic processes within a community of microorganisms that work together for their own benefit
what is the surgical model?
- “drill, fill, and bill”
- to “treat the source of infection” with a filling
- patient needs to be more proactive
describe the population health model
- caries lesions are treated by elimination or reduction of risk factors
- medicaments are used, in addition to oral hygeine education and nutritional education
- no longer treta tooth by tooth, but treat the patient as a whole
causal factors of dental caries include an agent, host, and environment. describe this.
- agent
- plaque biofilm
- s. mutans, s. sobrinus, lactobacilli, and others
- plaque biofilm
- host
- the tooth, saliva quanitity, saliva quality, immune responses
- environment
- dietary fermentable carbohydrates
what are some host factors that contribute to dental caries?
- tooth anatomy, texture of surface, protected surfaces
- salivary flow rates
- salivary quality and buffering capacity
- systemic disease
what are some environmental factors that contribute to dental caries?
- diet
- fermentable carbohydrates, frequency of meals, acidity of meals
- oral hygiene and compliance
- fluoride exposure
what are some bacterial factors that contribute to dental caries?
- streptococcus mutans and sobrinus
- lactobacilli
- other non-cariogenic bacteria can become cariogenic for shot periods of time under certain conditions
describe streptococcus mutans
- gram positive organisms
- primary causative agent in the formation of dnetal caries
- metabolizes sucrose to lactic acid
the rate of caries formation is dependent on what?
- frequent intake of carbohydrates
- oral hygiene
- saliva quantity
- saliva quality
- microbial status
- tooth surface
- host defense
what is enamel composed of?
- 95% mineral, 5% water
- composed of long, thin crystallites of hydroxyapatite, or carbonated apatite
