Oral Healthcare Issues in Clinical Practice

Question 1

Enamel is superficial to ___________, which itself is superficial to ______________.

Answer 1

dentine; pulp (with blood vessels)

Question 2

The _______________ binds teeth to the alveolar bone.

Answer 2

periodontal ligament

Question 3

How many teeth are included in the primary (aka childhood) set?

Answer 3

20

Question 4

The first teeth to erupt are the _____________, which appear at age __________.

Answer 4

central incisors; 6-12 months

Question 5

Describe the nomenclature of the teeth.

Answer 5

From medial to lateral:

• Central incisor
• Lateral incisor
• Canine (also called eye teeth)
• First premolar
• Second premolar
• First molar
• Second molar
• Third molar

Question 6

Why is it important for MDs to know about oral health?

Answer 6

Because many more people have medical insurance than dental insurance; the number of dentists per capita is declining; and oral health and systemic health are intimately linked.

Question 7

True or false: medicaid covers dental procedures for adults.

Answer 7

False.

Question 8

True or false: caries is not contagious.

Answer 8

False. It can be transmitted from one child to another.

Question 9

Why is sugar bad for teeth?

Answer 9

Because bacteria metabolize it and produce acid

Question 10

Because buffers neutralize the saliva in about twenty minutes –regardless of how much sugar is eaten –the frequency of sugar consumption is more important in the consideration of cavity risk than ___________.

Answer 10

the total amount eaten

Question 11

What is usually the first sign of tooth demineralization?

Answer 11

White spots

Question 12

After white spots appear on teeth, what is the next step in the progression toward caries?

Answer 12

Brown spot within a white spot; this occurs because the enamel is gone and the dentine (which is darker) gets exposed.

Question 13

At what age can kids usually brush their teeth without assistance?

Answer 13

Age 6

Question 14

True or false: bottled water is fluoridated.

Answer 14

False. Many immigrants (who came from nations with unsafe tap water) will rely exclusively on bottled water and miss fluoridation.

Question 15

Which areas of the mouth are most prone to develop cancer?

Answer 15

Lateral sides of the tongue
Floor of the mouth
Inside of the lips

Question 16

Periodontal disease results from _________________ (three things).

Answer 16

chronic plaque at gum line, bacterial infection, and host inflammatory response

Question 17

There are three types of periodontal disease: _______________.

Answer 17

• gingivitis (mildest)
• chronic periodontitis
• aggressive periodontitis (most severe)

Question 18

What percent of artificial heart valve infections arise from periodontal infection?

Answer 18

8%

Question 19

Poor glycemic control leads to a _________ increase in periodontal disease. Similarly, periodontitis has been shown to worsen glycemic control.

Answer 19

threefold

Question 20

Fat tissue releases which two cytokines that induce inflammation?

Answer 20

TNFalpha

IL-6

Question 21

True or false: treating periodontal disease leads to decreased adverse birth outcomes.

Answer 21

False.

Question 22

Oral care protocols have been shown to decrease ventilator-associated pneumonia by _______.

Answer 22

90%

Question 23

The most common chronic disease of childhood is ____________.

Answer 23

dental caries

Question 24

Adults have 32 teeth (including the wisdom teeth aka third molars) and children have only 20. Which teeth do kids not have?

Answer 24

The three molars (6 on top and 6 on bottom)

Question 25

Most kids have all their primary dentition by age ______.

Answer 25

3

Question 26

Periodontitis can lead to what perinatal complications?

Answer 26

Pre-term delivery or preeclampsia