module 3 Flashcards
what is the best method for assessing dental caries
- visual inspection on clean, dry teeth with good light
what percentage is normal health enamel mineralised
- 98%
- almost transparent
what colour is caries affected enamel
- white appearance
how is the white appearance of carious enamel created
- acidic solutions preferentially dissolve prism sheaths in enamel, creating pores
- these pores refract light, reflecting it back, instead of letting it pass through
when viewing anterior lesions using transmitted light what colour will lesions appear
- dark
- due to light being blocked
how can you identify dentinal carious lesions
- opalescent white
- central cavitation is directly visible as dark, carious dentine
- surrounded by opalescent white halo wherever enamel is partially demineralised
why must teeth be dry to inspect for caries
- if surface enamel pores fill with water which has similar optical properties to enamel, then the pores allow light to be transmitted through enamel
- would hide caries
what does opalescent enamel adjacent to stained fissure indicate
- dentinal involvement
what is an arrested carious lesion
- one that does not progress
what does active caries feel like
- rough to a probe dragged across surface
- arrested caries is smooth
how hard is arrested caries
- softer the lesion, the more active it is likely to be
- softer lesions are also more shiny
why is colour not a good indicator of caries activity
- colour can vary
why are radiographs useful
- diagnosing presence of caries
- diagnosing extent of carious lesion
- assessing caries progression
why is it difficult to assess caries proximally in primary dentition visually
- they have broad contact points
what age can bitewings be done
- 4+
what does frequency of radiographs depend on
- child’s risk assessment
why is it important to see a clear band of healthy dentine separating caries and pulp
- if there isn’t one, then more invasive techniques will be needed
what is a bitewing radiographs radiation dose equivalent to
- a few days worth of background radiation
how often should children at increased caries risk have bitewings taken
- 6-12 months
how often should children at lower risk of caries have bitewings taken
- 2 years
what is a triangle shaped radiolucency on mesial surface of maxillary second primary molars and maxillary permanent molars be
- cusp of carabelli
- could be mistaken for proximal caries
what kind of prevention must all children receive
- standard
what prevention must a child at increased risk of caries receive
- enhanced prevention
how do you develop and individualised action plan
- identify convenient time and place for preventive behaviour and who is to carry it out
- identify a trigger as a reminder for the child or parent/carer to carry out preventive behaviour
- agree a date to review progress
- agree action plan with child and parent/carer and write this down for them
- record action plan in child’s notes
- revise plan if needed at future visits