Pathology of Oral Cavity

Question 1

What did Sir William Osler refer the mouth to?

Answer 1

the mirror of the body

Question 2

What is Odontology?

Answer 2

the science dealing with the teeth, their structure and development, and their diseases

Question 3

With what 2 sets of teeth are humans born?

Answer 3

1. primary (deciduous)= 20 teeth, which are lost by age 6.

2. permanent (adult)= 32 teeth

Question 4

What are the upper and lower teeth called, respectively?

Answer 4

• upper= maxillary

- lower= mandibular

Question 5

What are the subgroups of the primary (deciduous/baby) teeth?

Answer 5

• 8 incisors
• 4 canines
• 8 molars
• charted A-T

Question 6

Are there any premolars or third molars in primary teeth?

Answer 6

NO

Question 7

When do the first teeth come into a baby’s mouth?

Answer 7

around 6 months (central incisors first)

Question 8

What is the normal age range for mixed dentition?

Answer 8

6-12 years of age

Question 9

What are the subgroups of the permanent (adult) teeth?

Answer 9

• 8 incisors
• 4 canines
• 8 premolars
• 12 molars
• charted as 1-32

Question 10

By what age range will most (28/32) of the permanent teeth be in function?

Answer 10

12.5 - 17 years

Question 11

BY what age range will the third molars (wisdom teeth) erupt if present?

Answer 11

17 - 21 years

Question 12

What are impacted teeth?

Answer 12

when wisdom teeth grow in from the sides preventing their eruption as they collide with adjacent molars

Question 13

What is hypodontia?

Answer 13

some teeth missing

Question 14

What is oligodontia?

Answer 14

6+ teeth missing

Question 15

What is andontia (rare)?

Answer 15

complete absence of all primary or permanent teeth

Question 16

What teeth are most commonly missing (if there are missing teeth)?

Answer 16

the last teeth in each series (third molars > lateral incisors > second premolars)

Question 17

What are “peg laterals”?

Answer 17

rudimentary (microdont) aka tiny lateral incisors

Question 18

What are supernumerary teeth?

Answer 18

additional tooth buds that normally form along the midline (mesodens) and are more common on the upper teeth (maxillary) and more in males

Question 19

** What is Cleidocranial Dysostosis?

Answer 19

rare congenital disorder of bone, characterized by abnormalities of the clavicles, skull, and jaws, as well as by occasional stunting of long bones.
*multiple supernumerary teeth (many impacted) are also common in this disorder.

Question 20

** What is Gardner’s Syndrome?

Answer 20

also known as familial colorectal polyposis, which is cancer of the colon and rectum and is characterized by the occurrence of multiple, impacted supernumerary teeth.

Question 21

Do the roots of teeth sit close to the surface (superficially)?

Answer 21

YES

Question 22

What is a parulus?

Answer 22

gum boil that is a drainage point for a tooth abscess. The abscess is caused by the body’s response to the toxins, which drain out of the tip of a root with a dead nerve.

Question 23

In immunocompromised people, what can an upper tooth infection progress to?

Answer 23

cause a cellulitis (usually Strep or Bacteroides) and progress to the maxillary sinus

Question 24

What are caries?

Answer 24

dental decay due to PLAQUE, SUGAR, and STREPTOCOCCI MUTANS (all 3). Strep mutans metabolizes sugar to lactic acid, which dissolves the calcium phosphate in tooth enamel.
*most prevalent human disease in the world.

Question 25

Do many people have “soft teeth”?

Answer 25

NO (very very few)

Question 26

What may xylitol do (found in Trident gum)?

Answer 26

help prevent tooth decay

Question 27

What is plaque?

Answer 27

yellowish sticky paste that accumulates on unbrushed teeth. Thick mucous film created by bacteria that hardens to become calculus (tartar)
*must brush or floss to remove!

Question 28

What is gingivitis?

Answer 28

inflammation of the gums due to plaque left around the necks of teeth for a long time and responsible for bad breath.

Question 29

What is periodontitis?

Answer 29

inflammation around teeth

Question 30

Is there a link between cardiovascular disease and periodontal disease?

Answer 30

YES and c-reactive protein is an acute phase reactant of inflammation that can indicate bacterial infection.

Question 31

What is nursing bottle syndrome (early childhood caries)?

Answer 31

deterioration of teeth do to allowance of children to suck on sweet things for too long. Sign of neglect!

Question 32

What is meth mouth?

Answer 32

tooth decay and acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) due to poor hygiene, poor nutrition, high sugar intake, and prolonged stress. Bad breath is also associated, obviously.
*also called “trench mouth” of soldiers in WWI

Question 33

Can stomach acid (from bulimia) or GERD, and certain food products like lemons or Mountain Dew cause enamel erosion?

Answer 33

YES

Question 34

What is an aphthous (canker)?

Answer 34

most common oral ulceration thought to be an auto-immune process or type IV hypersensitiviy, and often triggered by stress.
*cytomegalovirus, hormones, or nutritional deficiences can also cause them.

Question 35

What is important to know about Herpesvirus?

Answer 35

• HSV-1 usually establishes latency in the trigeminal ganglion and cause cold sores, or fever blisters along the lips or nasal orifices.
• HSV-2= herpes genitalis (esablishing latency in sacral ganglion).
• can treat with acyclovir or valtrex

Question 36

What is the most common STD in the U.S.?

Answer 36

HPV and may play an important role in oral cancer of the tonsils and base of tongue.

Question 37

What types of HPV cause 70% of cervical cancers?

Answer 37

HPV-16 and 18