Dental Caries: Epidemiology and Factors

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Questions and Answers

What are the primary causes of dental caries?

  • Fluoridated water, oral hygiene, and preventive measures
  • Dental plaque, host factors, fermentable carbohydrates, micro-organisms, and time (correct)
  • Saliva, race, and gender
  • Genetics, diet, and age

Which factor is NOT mentioned as affecting the prevalence of caries?

  • Gender
  • Race
  • Diet and sugar consumption (correct)
  • Familial heredity

What has led to a decrease in caries rate in industrialized countries?

  • Improvement in oral health education
  • Trend toward preventive measures such as fluoridated water, dental care, and better oral hygiene (correct)
  • Increase in sugar consumption
  • Decrease in access to dental care

Which population generally has lesser caries incidence?

<p>Blacks and Indians (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which age group does the incidence of caries increase again after decreasing somewhat?

<p>Older age group (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT mentioned as a primary cause of dental caries?

<p>Saliva pH level (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of dental plaque?

<p>To resist cleansing by physiological oral forces (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is considered a contributing factor for the initiation of caries?

<p>Supragingival dental plaque (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What forms the acquired pellicle in the process of plaque formation?

<p>Salivary glycoproteins (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of sugar is considered the most cariogenic?

<p>Sucrose (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can dental caries be controlled in relation to the 'Host (tooth)' factor?

<p>Fissure sealant application (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is hindered by active and passive immunization in relation to dental caries?

<p>Bacterial flora action (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the ideal quantity of saliva for the best washing action of plaque?

<p>High quantity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which component of saliva is described as more beneficial in relation to dental caries?

<p>Inorganic constituents (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Primary Causes of Dental Caries

  • The main causes of dental caries include bacteria, frequent sugar intake, poor oral hygiene, and acid production from plaque.
  • Factors not mentioned affecting caries prevalence include socioeconomic status and access to dental care.

Decrease in Caries Rates

  • Industrialized countries have seen a decline in caries rates due to improved oral hygiene practices, fluoride use, and better access to dental care.

Population Incidence

  • Generally, populations with lower sugar consumption and better oral health education experience lesser incidence of caries.
  • The incidence of caries increases again in older adults after a decline observed in younger populations.

Non-primary Causes

  • Factors such as genetic predisposition or dietary composition are not considered primary causes of dental caries.

Role of Dental Plaque

  • Dental plaque plays a critical role in caries onset as it harbors bacteria that produce acids damaging tooth enamel.

Contributing Factors

  • Frequent intake of fermentable carbohydrates (sugars) is a significant contributing factor for the initiation of caries.

Acquired Pellicle Formation

  • The acquired pellicle forms through the deposition of proteins from saliva onto the tooth surface, aiding plaque formation.

Cariogenic Sugars

  • Sucrose is regarded as the most cariogenic type of sugar, promoting rapid caries development.

Controlling Caries - Host Factor

  • To control dental caries related to the host factor (tooth), maintaining good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups are essential.

Immunization Impact

  • Active and passive immunization can hinder the establishment and growth of cariogenic bacteria in dental caries.

Ideal Saliva Quantity

  • An ideal quantity of saliva provides sufficient washing action to help remove plaque and food particles, aiding in caries prevention.

Saliva Components

  • Components such as fluoride and calcium present in saliva are particularly beneficial in preventing dental caries.

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