Introduction to Dental Caries

Question 1

name the causes of caries

Answer 1

sugar, bacteria, time and a susceptible surface of a tooth

Question 2

how do caries present?

Answer 2

sensitivity to hot and coldness, pain and appearance

Question 3

what is the treatment required for caries

Answer 3

restorations and extractions

Question 4

how do you prevent dental caries?

Answer 4

giving dietary advice, oral hygiene instructions and fluoride

Question 5

are caries reversible?

Answer 5

yes in the early stages but irreversible once a cavity forms

Question 6

name the different types of interventive treatment

Answer 6

simple restoration, replacement restoration, root canal therapy, extraction

Question 7

what does interventive treatment depend on?

Answer 7

signs and symptoms, damage done, patient preferences, cost and time

Question 8

what do you always look for when examining a patient?

Answer 8

caries, periodontal disease and oral mucosal disease e.g. oral cancer

Question 9

what is the definition of dental caries?

Answer 9

a plaque-related disease, dependent on the presence of simple sugars in the diet, driven by frequency of eating simple carbohydrates, modified by fluoride, salivary-flow and composition of saliva

Question 10

where does plaque form?

Answer 10

plaque traps, contact points, iatrogenic

Question 11

when do plaque traps form?

Answer 11

when restorations aren’t done properly

Question 12

give examples of plaque traps

Answer 12

pit and fissure, interproximal, smooth surfaces, root surface

Question 13

what are contact points?

Answer 13

interproximal surfaces, hard to see and clean

Question 14

what are iatrogenics?

Answer 14

around margins of restorations, plastic restorations, crowns/bridges/inlays/onlays, around orthodontic appliances, around removable partial dentures

Question 15

what can we do to reduce caries?

Answer 15

reduce intake of sugars, remove plaque regularly, increase exposure to fluoride, tip balance towards remineralisation

Question 16

what are the different classifications of caries?

Answer 16

primary or secondary? coronal or root? active, arrested or remineralised? primary, coronal and remineralised?

Question 17

what are primary caries?

Answer 17

no restorations, are classified by site, active/arrested/remineralised, root

Question 18

what are secondary caries?

Answer 18

around a restoration and can be coronal or root

Question 19

what caries advice do we need to give to patients?

Answer 19

caries - PREVENTIVE advice and reduce restorative information

Question 20

what is the visual representation of caries?

Answer 20

enamel discoloration and/or surface destruction

Question 21

what is involved in the detection of caries?

Answer 21

determining the presence or absence of the disease

Question 22

what is involved in the diagnosis of caries?

Answer 22

determining the presence of absence of the disease, knowing whether the disease is active or arrested so that the appropriate treatment can be planned, identifying the aetiology of the disease

Question 23

what are the non-operative managements of dental caries?

Answer 23

dietary analysis, oral hygiene instruction and increasing fluoride exposure

Question 24

why is dietary analysis important in management of caries?

Answer 24

it reduces the amount of simple carbohydrates

Question 25

what oral hygiene instruction is given in management of caries?

Answer 25

remove plaque regularly, toothbrushing and interdental cleaning

Question 26

why is increased fluoride exposure important in managing dental caries?

Answer 26

to tip the balance towards remineralisation

Question 27

what determines cavity design?

Answer 27

structure and properties of the dental tissues, the diseases, properties of restorative materials

Question 28

what must be reviewed and reassessed continually when preparing a tooth to receive restoration?

Answer 28

the position of the caries, the extent of the caries, the shape of the prepared cavity, the final restorative material

Question 29

what are the different position of caries?

Answer 29

pit and fissure, approximal, smooth surface, root

Question 30

where are approximal caries?

Answer 30

anterior and posterior

Question 31

what can occur on the smooth surface of a tooth?

Answer 31

caries, erosion, abrasion, abfraction, hypoplasia

Question 32

what are the different things to consider when restoring teeth?

Answer 32

skills, material, time, aesthetics, cost