Impact of caries on tooth structure Flashcards

1
Q

what do you need to develop caries?

A

dental plaque

substrate

tooth surface

time

oral bacteria/biofilm

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2
Q

what is a white spot lesion?

A

the white area of dental plaque typically near the gingival margin

demineralised enamel but has not been infiltrated

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3
Q

what is an enamel lesion?

A

demineralisation of enamel

  • acid / H+ ions react with phosphate in mouth to form phosphoric acid
  • acidic environment erodes / demineralises enamel
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4
Q

how does caries spread along the edj? clinically how will this impact?

A

enamel rod length is preserved but caries infiltrates and enlargens gaps between enamel rods

inverse triangle shape

if the patient can clean the tooth surface, do not restore.

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5
Q

how does demineralisation of enamel affect dentine?

A

dentine tubules lose diameter, forming a gap between tubules

caries infiltrates in gap and dentine begins to demineralise

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6
Q

what are inactive lesions? typically gingivally located ones.

A

slight cavitation under a microscope but no evidence of caries now

appears shiny white and is very superficial

the lesion is said to have arrested

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7
Q

how may you gain access to an interproximal carious lesion?

A

use a small piece of rubber to widen the gap temporarily.

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8
Q

what would your thought process be if a patient presented with white spot lesion on lower 6, you cannot tell if it is cavitated?

A

promote oral hygiene as you cannot investigate with a probe

no evident grey discolouration so not evident it is a cavity

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9
Q

why are pits and fissures a trap for caries?

A

saliva can only buffer superficially

substrate and bacteria can penetrate deep into fissures and cause caries development

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10
Q

what does grey areas around pit and fissures show?

A

there is a large cavity below the fissures

enamel is undermined by a pit

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11
Q

what is a plaque biofilm and how does it develop?

A

saliva acts as a primer allowing bacteria to bond to enamel and form a biofilm

selective attachment of bacteria through receptors

bacteria that join create new niches for more bacteria

after brushing, biofilm cannot produce acid early enough as lacks infrastructure

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