Prevention and treatment of Caries.

Caries is a breakdown of tooth structure.

Caries is caused by acid produced from carbohydrate food debris left on the teeth after meals.

Prevention of caries can be achieved by removal of carbohydrate debris to prevent acid forming.

If carbohydrate is cleaned off the teeth after meals, caries will not occur.

Cleaning of teeth will ensure a considerable reduction in the incidence of caries.

Teeth may be cleaned with a toothbrush or detergent food.

The detergent food scours the teeth clean of food debris.

The best way of preventing caries is to clean the teeth immediately after every meal.

Another way of preventing caries is avoiding snacks between meals.

If caries is untreated, it will cause toothache.

The object of treatment is to stop caries , prevent or cure pain.

The type of treatment depends on the health of the pulp.

If the pulp is the vital the tooth can be filled.

If the pulp is inflamed, treatment is by extraction of root canal therapy. No drug can cure caries and nothing can make the lost tooth structure grow again.

The best that can be achieved is the removal of all carious enamel and dentine and replacement by a filling.

To prevent a recurrence of the caries on the surface being filled, the cavity is extended to remove any other stagnation areas.

 

 

V. PERIODONTAL DISEASE

1. What structure does periodontal disease affect?

2. What is the earliest stage of periodontal disease ?

3. What happens if it spreads?

4. What is periodontal disease caused by?

5. What does stagnating food debris form?

6. What is tartar and where is it formed?

7. What factors are responsible for calculus formation?

8. In what cases does the gum become swollen?

Periodontal Disease

1.Periodontal disease affects the supporting structures of the teeth. These are the gums ,periodontal membrane and alveolar bone.

2.The earliest stage of the disease is chronic gingivitis which is a chronic inflammation involving the gums alone.

3.The disease spreads to the underlying periodontal membrane and alveolar bone.

4.They are gradually destroyed and the teeth become very loose. The late stage is called chronic periodontitis.

5.Periodontal disease is caused by accumulation of food debris at the gum margin.

6.This stagnating food debris forms a film, called plaque. It attracts bacteria and gives rise to inflammation of the gum margin

7.At the same time, calculus formation occurs below the gum margin. Calculus is a hard deposit seen on the lingual surface on the lower incisors.

8.Three factors are necessary for its formation – food debris, bacteria and saliva.

9.Subgingival calculus occurs in a tiny crevice which is normally present between the gum margin and neck of the tooth.

10. The combined effect of the plaque and subgingival calculus in this gingival crevice irritate the gum and produce a chronic gingivitis.In this condition the gum becomes swollen, enlarging the gingival crevice.

11.Further deposits of plaque and calculus are thereby formed; and these irritants keep up the inflammation.

12.Calculus ulcerates the gum and bleeding occurs on the slightest pressure.

13.The poisons soak through the ulcers to commence destruction of the periodontal membrane and alveolar bone.The gingival pocket deepens, thus further aggravating the condition.

14.If no treatment is provided, so much bone is lost that the teeth eventually become too loose.

 

 

VI. ORAL HYGIENE.TOOTHBRUSHING.

1.What do most dental disorders arise from?

2. What does food stagnation cause?

3. What are the methods of prevention dental diseases?

4. What measures does oral hygiene include?

5. Why is cleaning of teeth best performed by brushing?

6. What detergent food can you name?

7. What toothbrush is the most effective?

8. How are buccal, lingual,occlusal, mesial and distal surfaces cleaned?