Dental Preventive Practices

Study Notes

Fluoride application: a professional application of fluoride in various forms to tooth surfaces
Sealant application: placement of gel or liquid acrylic material on clean and prepared occlusal surfaces of teeth to cover and protect tooth surfaces
Selective adjustment: elimination of deep occlusal pits or fissures by selective abrasive or grinding of some enamel surfaces

Local anesthesia: blocks nerve endings from transporting pain messages to the brain
Topical analgesia: application of topical anesthetics to pain sites, minor operative procedure areas, and places about to receive injections
Methods of administration of local anesthesia:
- Infiltration anesthesia: directed into the tissue near the nerve ending of the operative site
- Regional or field anesthesia: around the nerve ending for anesthesia of a block of two or three teeth apices
- Block anesthesia: injection into a nerve bundle to enable anesthesia to a wider area
- Interpulpal anesthesia: injecting directly into the pulp chamber using a long needle
- Intraligamentory anesthesia: also called periodontal ligament injection, done for one or two teeth in the same quadrant

Patient preparation: preparing the patient to restore their tooth, including choosing technique, materials to be used, anesthesia, and isolation
Isolation: isolating the tooth or teeth to receive treatment, presenting better viewing and access

Scaling: removing supragingival and subgingival plaque, calculus, stain, and irritants through tooth-crown and root-surface scaling and root planing (SRP)
Tooth surface polishing: polishing surfaces to remove accumulated extrinsic stains on the tooth surface
Patient education: customized instruction in oral hygiene and care of teeth and gingival tissue
Antimicrobial therapy: includes prescription mouthwashes and systemic antibiotics

Prophylaxis treatment: may include gingival care in gingivitis as well as periodontitis, viral infections, and candida infections
Fluoride application: application of fluoride to prevent tooth decay
Pit and fissure sealant application: covering occlusal surfaces with a sealant to eliminate deep pits or fissures
Oral surgery: surgical intervention may be used to prevent future problems for developing teeth
Space maintenance: placement of fixed or removable appliances to maintain or reclaim premature spacing in the arch until eruption of the secondary teeth

Veneer: a thin layer of material bonded to the front of the tooth to improve appearance and protect the tooth from damage

Gingival reduction: removal of excessive gingival tissue by laser, periodontal knives, or bipolar electrosurgery
Gingival augmentation: building up or reconstructing the gingiva to repair or replace tissue where needed

Malocclusion can present an unattractive smile, and may cause a patient to seek accelerated orthodontic treatment

Replacement of missing tooth by prosthesis, including:
- Fixed Prosthodontics: a cemented crown, bridge, or veneer is placed in the mouth and is not intended for removal
- Removable Prosthodontics: placed in and out of the mouth at the patient’s will, like acrylic dentures (partial and complete denture)

Plaque or pellicle: an adhering biofilm that harbors bacterial pathogens and enables plaque to build up
Calculus: the addition of calcium and phosphorus salts found in saliva and mouth fluids form a hard substance called calculus
Gingival erythema: the gingiva is red and appears inflamed
Gingival hyperplasia: the tissue is overgrown from pocket formation
Tooth mobility: the tooth seems loose and moves under pressure because of loss of attachment