Dental Assessment Chapter 17

Questions and Answers

What is the goal of hard-tissue assessment?

To recognize and document signs of dental caries, acquired tooth damage, and developmental anomalies to optimize patient care.

Which of the following is true regarding electronic charting? (Select all that apply)

Readily retrievable (correct)

Expensive to implement (correct)

Requires no training

Saves space (correct)

Humans have two sets of natural teeth, commonly referred to as primary and __________ dentitions.

permanent

What are the classifications of teeth based on surface?

Apical third, middle third, cervical third for roots; gingival third, middle third, incisal or occlusal third for crowns. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of caries is observed in children under the age of 5?

Early childhood caries Signup and view all the answers

What is dental caries?

A multifactorial infectious and transmissible disease primarily caused by bacterial action on fermentable carbohydrates. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an open-ended question you would ask a client?

Can you describe the pain you are experiencing? Signup and view all the answers

What is considered a common cause of acquired tooth damage?

Dental caries Signup and view all the answers

Enamel hypoplasia is related to abnormal enamel formation.

True Signup and view all the answers

Match the types of dental anomalies with their descriptions:

Hyperdontia = Extra teeth present Hypodontia = Missing teeth Macrodontia = Teeth larger than normal Microdontia = Teeth smaller than normal Signup and view all the answers

What are parafunctional habits?

Habits such as clenching, bruxism, thumb or finger sucking, and rocking of teeth. Signup and view all the answers

Malocclusion refers to a perfect alignment of teeth.

False Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Hard-Tissue Assessment

Purpose: Evaluate if a patient’s teeth are biologically sound and functional.
Key goals: Identify and document signs of dental caries, tooth damage, and anomalies for improved patient care.

Dental Charting

Defined as the graphical documentation of dental health on a specific date.
Incorporates clinical, radiographic assessments, and patient-reported symptoms.
Odontogram used to document tooth conditions and restorations.

Electronic Charting

Advantages include space efficiency, easy retrieval, and integration of digital imagery.
Disadvantages involve high costs, training difficulties, infection control concerns, and time management issues.

Tooth Classification

Two natural sets of teeth:
- Primary dentition: Up to 20 teeth (5 per quadrant).
- Permanent dentition: 32 teeth (8 per quadrant).

Quadrant and Sextant Classification

Quadrant classification: 5 to 8 teeth per quadrant based on dentition type.
Sextant classification: Divides mouth into sections, each containing incisors/canines and posterior teeth.

Tooth Surface Classification

Root divided into apical, middle, and cervical thirds.
Crown divided into gingival, middle, and incisal/occlusal thirds, with additional vertical divisions.

Patient Symptom Assessment

Encourage sharing details about pain location, duration, and characteristics.
Importance of open-ended questions to gather symptom information, crucial for diagnosis.

Tooth Assessment and Caries Detection

Techniques: Direct visual examination, transillumination, tactile examination, radiographic evaluation, and patient symptom evaluation.

Acquired Tooth Damage

Defined as loss of integrity of the tooth, primarily due to dental caries, attrition, abrasion, erosion, and fractures.

Dental Caries Overview

Multifactorial disease primarily caused by bacterial action on carbohydrates affecting mineralized tissues.
Common sites for caries development: pits, fissures, interproximal contacts, and recession areas.

Types of Dental Caries

Early Childhood Caries: Occurring in children under 5.
Rampant Caries: Rapid decay requiring urgent treatment.
Chronic Caries: Slow decay process needing intervention.
Arrested Caries: Reversal of decay through remineralization.
Recurrent Caries: New caries occurring around restorations.

Caries Classification

Black Classification: Categorizes caries into six classes.
Complexity Classification: Differentiates based on the number of surfaces involved (simple, compound, complex).

Caries Detection Methods

Visual assessment focusing on location, color, and texture, complemented by radiographic techniques (e.g., bitewing, periapical).
Emerging technologies like intraoral cameras are gaining traction.

Pulpal Damage and Endodontics

Pulpal damage usually arises from bacterial infection or trauma, potentially leading to abscess formation.
Endodontics specializes in managing dental pulp and surrounding tissues.

Developmental Anomalies

Tooth anomalies result from congenital or hereditary defects.
Examples include Dentinogenesis Imperfecta, variations in tooth number, and irregularities in tooth tissue.

Dentition Charting

Initial assessment documented in a dental chart, updated regularly.
A systematic approach may ensure all areas of the dentition are evaluated.

Common Abnormalities

Number of Teeth: Conditions like hyperdontia, hypodontia, and fusion.
Whole Tooth Anomalies: Conditions like macrodontia and microdontia.
Enamel Formation Issues: Includes enamel dysplasia, hypoplasia, and dental fluorosis.

Occlusion

Defined as the contact relationship between maxillary and mandibular teeth when the jaws are closed.
Centric occlusion and relation of teeth are essential for overall dental health.

Malocclusion Types

Classifications indicate deviations in the relationship of teeth:
- Class I: Malrelationships seen in overcrowding or occlusal issues.
- Class II: Characterized by a retrognathic profile with variations in the position of incisors.
- Class III: Features reverse relationships between maxillary and mandibular teeth.

Occlusal Concepts

Primary occlusion assessed via terminal plane relationships.
Flush terminal, mesial step, and distal step indicate normal primary tooth alignment.

Parafunctional Habits

Include clenching, bruxism, and thumb sucking, which can adversely affect dental health.

Trauma from Occlusion

Primary Trauma: Arises from excessive force on healthy periodontium.
Secondary Trauma: Occurs from normal forces impacting a weakened periodontium, often due to disease.

Summary

A thorough understanding of dental hard tissue assessment, charting, and classifications is critical for diagnosing and managing dental health effectively.

Description

Explore the critical aspects of hard-tissue assessment and dental charting in Chapter 17. This quiz will cover the recognition and documentation of various dental issues including caries, damage, and anomalies essential for patient care. Evaluate your understanding of these key concepts in dental health.