Hard Tissue Charting Flashcards
What is the purpose of a hard-tissue assessment?
To determine if a patient’s dentition is biologically sound and functional.
What are the main goals of a hard-tissue assessment?
To recognize and document signs of dental caries, acquired tooth damage, and developmental anomalies to optimize patient care.
What are three advantages of electronic charting?
- Saves space
- Readily retrievable
- Allows for incorporation of digital clinical and radiographic images
What are three disadvantages of electronic charting?
- Expensive to implement
- Steep learning curve
- Infection control concerns
How is the root of a tooth divided horizontally?
Into three parts: the apical third, middle third, and cervical third.
How is the crown of a tooth divided horizontally?
into three parts: the gingival third, middle third, and incisal (for anterior teeth) or occlusal third (for posterior teeth).
How is the crown of a tooth divided vertically from the facial view?
Into three parts: the mesial third, middle third, and distal third.
What are the main methods used in a tooth assessment for detecting dental caries?
- Direct visual examination
- Transillumination
- Tactile clinical examination
- Radiographic evaluation
- Evaluation of symptoms described by the patient
What is acquired tooth damage?
Damage to the tooth caused by any process that results in a loss of integrity of the tooth structure.
What is the most common form of acquired tooth damage?
Dental caries.
What are other common forms of acquired tooth damage besides dental caries?
Attrition
Abrasion
Erosion
Fracture
What is attrition in terms of acquired tooth damage?
Attrition is the gradual wearing down of tooth surfaces due to tooth-to-tooth contact, often from grinding or clenching.
What is abrasion as a form of acquired tooth damage?
Abrasion is the wearing away of tooth surfaces caused by external forces, such as aggressive brushing or using hard objects on the teeth.
What is erosion in relation to tooth damage?
Erosion is the loss of tooth structure due to chemical processes, often from acidic foods, drinks, or stomach acid.
How can a fracture contribute to acquired tooth damage?
A fracture is a break or crack in the tooth that can compromise its structure and integrity.
What is dental caries?
Dental caries is a multifactorial infectious and transmissible disease affecting the mineralized hard tissues of the teeth.
What is the primary factor causing dental caries?
Bacterial action on fermentable carbohydrates, which leads to the breakdown of tooth mineral.
What are the 6 susceptible sites that favor biofilm retention on teeth?
- Pits and fissures on occlusal, buccal, and lingual surfaces
- Interproximal contacts
- Free gingival margin
- Areas of recession with exposed root surfaces
- Deficient or defective margins of restorations
- Surfaces adjacent to bridges and dentures
what are the 5 types of caries
- Early childhood caries
- Rampant caries
- Chronic caries
- Arrested caries
- Recurrent caries
What are early childhood caries?
Caries observed in children under 5 years of age, often related to diet and oral hygiene habits.
What are rampant caries?
A sudden, rapid destruction of many teeth, requiring urgent intervention to stop extensive decay.
What are chronic caries?
A slow, progressive decay process that still requires intervention but is less aggressive than rampant caries.
What are arrested caries?
Recalcified lesions from remineralization, where the caries process has stopped and is no longer actively progressing.
What are recurrent caries?
New caries that develop under or around an existing restoration or its margins.
