Cariology and Dental Caries Study

Study Notes

Cariology Overview

Cariology studies dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay.
Caries is a biofilm-mediated, multifactorial disease leading to mineral loss in dental hard tissues.

Caries Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves clinical judgment to assess signs of caries and decide on management strategies.
Aims to optimize patient health by selecting appropriate treatments and monitoring disease progression.

Caries Activity

Represents the balance of mineral changes over time: net loss, gain, or stability.
Active caries indicate progression, while inactive caries signify arrest or regression.

Dental Biofilm and Plaque

Dental biofilm consists of microorganisms attached to tooth surfaces in a polymeric matrix.
The term "dental plaque" is commonly used to refer to this biofilm in clinical settings.

Mineral Changes

Demineralization occurs when tooth mineral is lost due to acids, primarily through biofilm in caries cases.
Remineralization refers to the gain of minerals in previously demineralized tissues.

Cariogenic Factors

Cariogenic substances and microorganisms contribute to the development of caries.
Cariogenicity refers to their potential to promote dental caries, while cariostatic agents can halt its progression.

Caries Risk Assessment

Caries risk is a measure of the likelihood of developing or worsening caries under current conditions.
Modifiable risk factors can be changed through interventions to lower caries risk.
Caries risk management includes strategies to reduce individual or population risk for caries development.

Caries Lesion Characteristics

Caries lesions are categorized based on anatomical location, severity, tissue depth, and activity status.
Lesion detection methods include clinical assessments and supplementary tools like radiography and microscopy.

Types of Caries Lesions

Initial caries lesion refers to non-cavitated lesions and may exist for long periods without detection.
White spot lesions indicate coloration but do not relate to lesion activity and may resemble other conditions like dental fluorosis.

Caries Classification

Sound enamel or dentin describes tooth structure with no visible changes.
Primary caries develop on previously sound surfaces, while secondary caries (recurrent caries) occur next to restorations.
Residual caries refers to carious tissue remaining before restoration placement.
Rampant caries describes numerous lesions in a patient, often associated with early childhood caries.

Early Childhood Caries

Early childhood caries signifies rapid onset and progression of decay in young children, potentially leading to destruction of primary teeth.
Defined by the presence of decayed, missing, or filled surfaces in children under six years old.

Description

Explore the fundamentals of cariology, the branch of dentistry focused on dental caries and tooth decay. This quiz will guide you through the diagnosis, clinical assessment, and management of caries to optimize patient health outcomes.