Plaque Control and Dental Caries

Question 1

What are the sites where caries most commonly occurs?

Answer 1

1. fissures
2. proximal surfaces
3. facial and lingual surfaces
4. margins of restorations

Question 2

T/F. Most survey data shows that most dentist and medical doctors believe that toothbrushing reduces caries.

Answer 2

True.

Question 3

Toothbrushing with ___ toothpaste does reduce caries rates.

Answer 3

fluoridated

Question 4

T/F. Evidence in support of the benefits of the efficacy of brushing independent of the effects of fluroide toothpaste is strong.

Answer 4

False, Evidence in support of the benefits of the efficacy of brushing independent of the effects of fluroide toothpaste is LACKING.

Question 5

Toothbrushing alone without the addition of ___ ___ does NOT appear to be effective in reducing caries.

Answer 5

fluoride dentifrice

Question 6

T/F. Even supervised self-brushing [without a dentifrice], interproximal flossing and checking with disclosant produced no reduction in caries over 3 yrs.

Answer 6

True.

Question 7

T/F. Ubiquitous use of fluoride toothpaste makes it difficult to distinguish effects of fluoride from those of mechanical cleaning.

Answer 7

True.

Question 8

What are the main reasons for the lack of efficacy of brushing for caries reduction independent of the effects of fluoride toothpaste?

Answer 8

• toothbrushing may not achieve plaque removal because bristles do not reach the caries-prone sites: fissures and proximal surfaces
• it is usually not carried out sufficiently thoroughly

Question 9

How frequent should one brush?

Answer 9

twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste

Question 10

How often should plaque be removed to be sufficient to prevent gingivitis?

Answer 10

every other day

Question 11

T/F. Some evidence suggests that fluoride after meals reduces acid production.

Answer 11

False, Some evidence suggests that fluoride BEFORE meals reduces acid production.

Question 12

Brushing before ___ provides long-term fluoride benefits. Advise patients to brush before ___ and at one other time.

Answer 12

bed; bed

Question 13

Does the amount of toothpaste matter? Are higher concentrations of fluoride more effective?

Answer 13

No

Yes

Question 14

Volume of water and vigor of rinsing both affect caries experience. Advise patients to rinse ___.

Answer 14

minimally

Question 15

What age should brushing begin?

Answer 15

earlier commencement to brushing (before the age of 1yr) seems to correlate with lower caries experience.

Question 16

T/F. Filaments arranged at different heights and angles have been demonstrated to be significantly more effective in caries reduction.

Answer 16

False, Filaments arranged at different heights and angles have been demonstrated to be significantly more effective in PLAQUE REMOVAL and REDUCING GINGIVITIS. No data on caries reduction

Question 17

T/F. Powered toothbrushes with a rotation oscillation action reduce plaque and gingivitis more than manual toothbrushing.

Answer 17

True.

Question 18

T/F. In regards to oral hygiene, studies indicate that no particular method is superior.

Answer 18

True.

Question 19

Patients rarely exceed ___ sec per oral hygiene session.

Answer 19

60

Question 20

Interproximal flossing my trained assistant at school reduced incidence of ___ caries by ___% for children with low ___ exposure.

Answer 20

proximal; 40; fluoride

reported daily home flossing had NO effect in the same study. Another study said self-flossing by adolescents for 2yr had no effect

Question 21

Effective oral hygiene measures are probably more important for the maintenance of ___ health than for the prevention of ___.

Answer 21

periodontal; decay

Question 22

___-___ professional prophylaxis has no effect on caries.

Answer 22

semi-annual

Question 23

T/F. Professional prophylaxis every month substantially prevented caries.

Answer 23

False, Professional prophylaxis every TWO WEEKS substantially prevented caries.

Question 24

Professional mechanical plaque removal (PMPR) in adults, particularly in combination with ___ ___ instructions, may be more effective for prevention of periodontal diseases than no treatment.

Answer 24

oral hygiene

Question 25

Rinses do not enter ___, so they are not effective against ___ problems such as periodontitis.

Answer 25

sulcus; subgingival

Question 26

How is chlorhexidine available in the US?

Answer 26

0.12% rinse

varnish

Question 27

What are the side effects to chlorhexidine?

Answer 27

staining
calculus
taste alterations
tissue irritation

Question 28

T/F. Chlorhexidine enhances the effects of fluoride.

Answer 28

False, chlorhexidine adds little to the effects of fluoride

Question 29

What is a milk protein bound to amorphous calcium phosphate that binds to plaque and supplies calcium and phosphate during an acid attach.

Answer 29

casein phosphopepetide (Recaldent, MI Paste)

some evidence of efficacy in toothpaste and in food. not as effective as fluoride

Question 30

___ ___ compounds such as cetyl pyridinium may reduce plaque but their effectiveness in preventing ___ has not been studied.

Answer 30

Quaternary ammonium; caries

Question 31

Toothpaste with ___ (Colgate Total toothpaste) and fluoride slightly more effective against ___ caries than fluoride alone. It is also effective against ___.

Answer 31

triclosan; root; gingivitis

Question 32

Essential ___ are effective against gingivitis and there is some evidence for protection from caries.

Answer 32

oils (thymol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, menthol (listerine)

Question 33

T/F. Prebrushing rinses are very effective in plaque reduction.

Answer 33

False, they are NOT any more effective than a placebo.

Question 34

___ (herbal remedy) may reduce plaque and is not considered safe because it can cause ___ lesions.

Answer 34

Sanguinarine; precancerous