Introduction to Dentistry and Preventive Care

Preventive Dentistry

• Preventive dentistry employs strategies and agents to forestall the onset of disease, reverse the progress of the disease, and arrest the disease process before secondary preventive treatment becomes necessary.
• Dentists instruct patients in prevention education, including proper toothbrushing and flossing, diet correction, and home treatment.

Oral Tissues Diseases

• Oral lesion: an altered inflammatory tissue or infected patch in the skin, associated with pain, swelling, or pus.
• Gingivitis: inflammation of the gingival tissues, causing redness and swelling, often due to irritants, disease, habits, improper hygiene, and poor general or nutritional health.
• Periodontitis: inflammation of the gingiva with involvement of deeper periosteal tissues, indicated by formation of pockets and bone loss.
• Pericoronitis: inflammation around the crown of a tooth, often occurring with erupting third molar teeth.
• Leukoplakia: white patches on oral tissues, particularly the tongue, which may become malignant.
• Erythroplakia: red tissue patches on oral mucosa, particularly the palate or mouth floor, which may be precancerous.

Teeth Diseases and Dental Caries

• Dental caries (tooth decay) is caused by Streptococcus mutans bacteria, which produce acid to destroy tooth tissues through decalcification and demineralization.
• Types of dental decay:
  • Incipient caries: beginning decay.
  • Rampant caries: widespread or growing decay.
  • Recurrent caries: decay occurring under or near repaired margins of tooth restorations.
  • Arrested caries: decay showing no progressive tendency.
• Classification of dental caries:
  • Simple cavity: decay involving one surface of the tooth.
  • Compound cavity: decay involving two surfaces of a tooth.
  • Complex cavity: decay involving more than two surfaces of a tooth.
• Operative dentistry classification: Class I through Class VI, according to operative needs, instrumentation, and procedures associated with the lesion.

Home Preventive Techniques

• Fluoride use is essential in prevention:
  • Regulated fluoride use: regular intake or use of fluorinated water and vitamins, mouthwashes, and toothpastes containing fluoride.
  • Fluorosis: condition caused by excessive fluoride ingestion, resulting in mottling and discoloration of enamel tissue.
  • Systemic fluoride: fluoride taken orally, in the water supply, drops, or vitamins.
  • Topical fluoride: fluoride placed on tooth surfaces, such as liquids, gels, and pastes.
• Additional home prevention aids:
  • Rinse: anti-plaque mouth rinses containing therapeutic chemicals to reduce plaque.
  • Mouthwash: breath-freshening rinses to reduce acquired pellicle on tooth surfaces.
  • Disclosing dyes: red/blue food colouring or sodium fluorescein solution to disclose or stain plaque or acquired pellicle.
  • Powered toothbrushes: electric or battery-driven devices used to clean teeth.
  • Dentifrice: tooth powder or toothpaste used to clean teeth and prevent halitosis.
  • Floss holders/threaders: devices used to hold or insert floss under bridgework and between teeth.
  • Interdental brushes/picks: handles that hold small brush tips to be inserted between teeth and into sulcus areas.
  • Wooden picks/flat balsam wedges: used to stimulate interproximal gingival tissue circulation.