Dental Cariology Basics
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Questions and Answers

Which tooth habitats are most favorable for the accumulation of cariogenic biofilm?

  • Pits and fissures (correct)
  • Smooth enamel surfaces away from proximal contacts
  • Lingual surfaces of the lower teeth
  • Root surfaces near the cervical line (correct)
  • What is the main purpose of professional tooth cleaning?

  • To whiten teeth and improve appearance
  • To strengthen enamel through fluoride treatment
  • To drill and fill cavities
  • To control biofilm and prevent disease (correct)
  • Which of the following is NOT a protective mechanism of saliva in preventing dental caries?

  • Direct antibacterial activity
  • Bacterial clearance
  • Acid production (correct)
  • Remineralization
  • Which type of bacteria predominantly colonizes the root surfaces in the gingival sulcus?

    <p>Filamentous and spiral bacteria (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of saliva is responsible for flushing away microorganisms in the oral cavity?

    <p>Salivary Flow Rate (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does lysozyme play in saliva?

    <p>Exhibiting antibacterial activity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where on the tooth surfaces are caries lesions most frequently found?

    <p>In pits and fissures, and smooth enamel surfaces proximal to contacts (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the buffering capacity of saliva?

    <p>It prevents tooth decay by increasing salivary pH (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do cariogenic bacteria play in the formation of caries?

    <p>They metabolize carbohydrates and produce organic acids. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which pH level indicates a critical point for enamel demineralization?

    <p>5.5 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does saliva contribute to the prevention of dental caries?

    <p>By neutralizing acids and providing minerals for remineralization. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What best describes the relationship between demineralization and remineralization during caries progression?

    <p>An imbalance favors either demineralization or remineralization. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the incubation period referring to in the context of dental caries?

    <p>Duration before symptoms of caries appear after infection. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is considered protective against dental caries?

    <p>Effective oral hygiene practices. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when the pH level in the biofilm drops below critical levels?

    <p>Calcium and phosphate are drawn from the teeth. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant consequence of imbalances between pathologic and protective factors in the oral cavity?

    <p>Development of dental caries. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary benefit of saliva's buffering capacity?

    <p>To reduce potential for acid formation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does professional tooth cleaning play in dental health?

    <p>It merely removes bacteria from tooth surfaces (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors significantly increases susceptibility to dental caries?

    <p>Decreased salivary production (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the frequency of exposure to fermentable carbohydrates affect biofilm formation?

    <p>High-frequency exposure may produce cariogenic biofilm. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the mouth's pH level after eating something sweet?

    <p>pH drops below the critical point of 5.5. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the state of saliva and biofilm fluid in relation to calcium and phosphate ions?

    <p>They are supersaturated with calcium and phosphate. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary factor in the onset of dental caries related to oral hygiene?

    <p>Proper tooth brushing and flossing (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does biofilm play in dental health?

    <p>It can lead to dental caries if uncontrolled (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Saliva's Buffering Capacity

    Saliva's ability to resist changes in pH, primarily due to bicarbonate ions.

    Cariogenic Biofilm

    Oral biofilm that promotes tooth decay, often fueled by sugar.

    Remineralization

    Process where calcium and phosphate in saliva re-strengthen tooth enamel.

    Low Saliva Production

    Reduced salivary flow, leading to increased risk of cavities.

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    Caries Susceptibility

    Increased likelihood of getting cavities.

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    Oral Hygiene

    Proper tooth brushing and flossing to maintain oral health.

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    Critical pH Level

    The pH threshold (around 5.5) below which tooth enamel starts to dissolve.

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    Fermentable Carbohydrates

    Sugars that bacteria easily consume, leading to acid production and tooth decay.

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    Caries-prone tooth habitats

    Areas on teeth where cariogenic (cavity-causing) biofilm tends to accumulate.

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    Biofilm (plaque)

    A community of bacteria that adheres to surfaces, such as teeth.

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    Professional tooth cleaning

    A procedure to remove biofilm (plaque) and prevent dental diseases.

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    Saliva's role in preventing cavities

    Saliva helps maintain healthy oral conditions by flushing out bacteria, buffering acids, and promoting remineralization.

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    Bacterial clearance

    The removal of bacteria from the mouth by fluid flow (like saliva).

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    Salivary antibacterial activity

    Certain components in saliva, such as enzymes (lysosome, lactoperoxidase, lactoferrin), that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria.

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    What is Caries?

    A contagious disease that causes tooth decay by dissolving tooth enamel and dentin through bacterial activity.

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    What is the Key to Preventing Caries?

    Maintaining a balance between the demineralization (tooth dissolving) and remineralization (tooth strengthening) processes.

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    What triggers Demineralization?

    When the pH in the biofilm drops below a critical level (5.5 for enamel), causing minerals to be lost from the tooth.

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    What is Remineralization?

    The process where minerals from saliva are deposited back onto the tooth surface, repairing the enamel.

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    What is the Role of Biofilm?

    A sticky layer on teeth where bacteria live and produce acids that contribute to caries.

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    What are Pathologic Factors?

    Factors that promote tooth decay, such as sugar intake, poor oral hygiene, and certain bacteria.

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    What are Protective Factors?

    Factors that help prevent tooth decay, such as saliva's buffering capacity, fluoride, and a balanced diet.

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    What is the Significance of Cavities?

    Cavities (holes in teeth) are a sign of an imbalance between protective and destructive factors, favoring tooth decay.

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    Study Notes

    Dental Cariology

    • Dental caries is a multifactorial, transmissible, infectious oral disease affecting teeth, resulting in localized dissolution and destruction of calcified tissue.
    • A key concept is the balance between demineralization and remineralization processes.
    • Cariogenic bacteria metabolize sugars to produce organic acids that lower the pH in the biofilm.
    • A low pH dissolves calcium and phosphate, causing demineralization of the tooth.
    • As the pH returns to neutral, mineral can re-crystallize on the tooth surface, causing remineralization.
    • The balance between these processes determines caries development.
    • Factors influencing caries include primary (tooth anatomy, saliva, fluoride use, diet) and secondary (socioeconomic factors, education, lifestyle).
    • Pathologic factors (frequent sugar consumption, inadequate fluoride, poor oral hygiene) promote demineralization, while protective factors (healthy diet, fluoride toothpaste, preventative sealants) promote remineralization..
    • Caries lesions can differ in location: smooth-surface caries, pit-and-fissure caries, occlusal caries, and proximal caries.
    • Enamel caries is a lesion in enamel that hasn't penetrated into dentin, whereas dentin caries has penetrated into dentin.
    • Primary caries are not next to a restoration, secondary caries are adjacent to a restoration.
    • Residual caries are carious tissue that wasn't completely removed before a restoration.
    • Active caries lesions show ongoing demineralization, while inactive caries lesions have stopped, but clinical signs remain.
    • Rampant caries describes multiple extensive cavitations in a person.
    • Dental plaque, now called biofilm, is a tenacious film on teeth composed of bacteria, their byproducts, extracellular matrix, and water.
    • Caries-related biofilm growth is influenced by saliva (flow rate, buffering capacity).
    • The mechanisms by which saliva protects against caries include bacterial clearance, direct antibacterial activity, buffering, and remineralization.
    • Factors like decreased salivary production may increase caries susceptibility.
    • Oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) disrupts biofilm and promotes a clean enamel surface, but doesn't eliminate all bacteria.
    • High-frequency exposure to fermentable carbohydrates such as sucrose is a primary factor in producing cariogenic biofilm.
    • In the absence of fermentable carbohydrates, biofilm growth typically does not lead to caries.
    • The pH in the mouth fluctuates throughout the day, with a critical pH at which teeth begin to dissolve (around 5.5).
    • The length of exposure to fermentable carbohydrates affects the duration of the demineralization process.

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    Description

    Explore the fundamentals of dental caries in this quiz, focusing on the balance between demineralization and remineralization processes. Understand how various factors such as diet, hygiene, and fluoride influence the development of dental caries. Test your knowledge and learn about protective and pathologic factors in oral health.

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