Exam #2: Dental Diseases, Emergencies, and Treatments

Question 1

What are dental caries?

Answer 1

Tooth decay

Question 2

What is the primary etiology of dental caries?

Answer 2

Steptococci mutans

Question 3

What bacteria are associated with root decay?

Answer 3

Actinomyces genus

Question 4

What is the dental caries triad?

Answer 4

1) Tooth
2) Bacteria
3) Carbohydrate

The combination of these three is a “recipe” for decay.

Question 5

What food has the highest relative cariogenicity?

Answer 5

• Soda/ pop* - Mountain Dew
  2) Fruit drinks
  3) Orange juice
  4) Apple juice
  5) Grape juice

Question 6

What are the characteristics of highly cariogenic foods?

Answer 6

• High fermentable carbohydrate content
• Sticky
• Break into small particles in the mouth
• Causes pH to fall below 5.5
• Highly processed

Question 7

What are the characteristics of foods with low cariogenic potential?

Answer 7

• High protein
• Moderate fat
• Minimal carbohydrates
• High Ca++ and phosphorus
• pH greater than 6
• Stimulate saliva secretion

Question 8

What are anticariogenic foods?

Answer 8

• Foods that return pH to normal
• Foods that prevent plaque attachment
• Foods that stimulate secretion of saliva

Question 9

What are examples of anticariogenic foods?

Answer 9

Cheese

Tea

Question 10

What are coronal caries?

Answer 10

Dental caries involving the crown/ visible part of the teeth

Question 11

What are the symptoms of coronal caries?

Answer 11

• Sensitivity to hot/cold
• Sensitivity to sweets
• Pain on biting/ mastication

Question 12

What are root caries?

Answer 12

Dental caries involving the root of the tooth leading to recession of the gum-line

Seen in elderly population

Question 13

What are the symptoms of root caries?

Answer 13

• Sensitivity to hot/cold
• Sensitivity to sweets
• Pain on mastication

Question 14

What are the two major factors that contribute to dental caries secondary to soda?

Answer 14

• Poor oral hygiene

- Xerostomia (dry mouth)

Question 15

What are the major causes of xerostomia?

Answer 15

• Medication
• Radiation
• Age
• Methamphetamine

Question 16

What medications induce xerostomia?

Answer 16

• Anti-hypertensives
• Anti-arrhythmic
• Anti-hyperlipidemic
• Anti-histamines
• Anti-depressants
• Anti-parkinson’s

Question 17

What constitutes a dental emergency?

Answer 17

• Acute pain
• Abscess
• Cellulitis
• Injury

Question 18

What is the definition of acute pain?

Answer 18

• Less than 12-24 hours
• Short or no resolution with analgesia
• With or without swelling
• Frequent drinks of cool water to quell a “hot” tooth

Question 19

What are the different types of dental abscess?

Answer 19

• Intra-oral
• Extra-oral
• Pulpitis-Nerve Necrosis
• Periodontal

**Note that these are more common in kids that are formula fed AND laid down with the bottle*

Question 20

What are the symptoms of abscesses?

Answer 20

• Localized soft tissue swelling
• Erythema
• Tenderness with palpation

Question 21

What are the symptoms of cellulitis?

Answer 21

• Extra-oral swelling
• Trismus (lock-jaw)
• Localized pain

Question 22

What is Ludwig’s Angina?

Answer 22

• A skin infection that occurs on the floor of the mouth
• Inflammation and swelling can impede the airway

This is a truly life-threatening dental emergency