Dental Hygiene

Question 1

What is a plaque?

Answer 1

A biofilm generally due to strep bacteria

Question 2

What is periodontitis?

Answer 2

Inflammation of the gum

Toxins can form pockets below surface of gums, damaging muscle fibres, causing tooth to become mobile

Question 3

What is gingivitis?

Answer 3

Reversible inflammation of the gum

Question 4

Why do caries occur?

Answer 4

When both bacteria and sugar are present, loss of CaPO4 occurs due to acid production in the bacterial breakdown of sugar

Question 5

Why does bacteria accumulate?

Answer 5

Shielding from shear forces on the approximal and fissure surfaces of teeth

Question 6

What are pellicles?

Answer 6

Thin films of glycoproteins on teeth and gums

Question 7

Why do cavities form?

Answer 7

Bacteria attach to pellicles

Question 8

What is the main feature of S oralis?

Answer 8

Bridging species allowing multiple types of bacteria to attach

Question 9

What are early caries?

Answer 9

Small white spots of demineralisation that are reversible

Question 10

What is erosion?

Answer 10

Demineralisation due to gastric acid

Question 11

Which bacteria are acid tolerant?

Answer 11

Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli

Question 12

What kind of bacteria cause periodontitis?

Answer 12

Gram negative

Question 13

What kind of bacteria cause caries?

Answer 13

Gram positive

Question 14

How is veillonella useful?

Answer 14

Breakdown lactic acid for its own use, reducing risk of caries

Question 15

What is necrotising periodontitis?

Answer 15

Underlying systemic infection

Question 16

What are the features of necrotising periodontitis?

Answer 16

Severe pain
Halitosis
Grey pseudomembrane on gingivae

Question 17

What bacteria is associated with necrotising periodontitis?

Answer 17

Aggregatibacter leukotoxin
Spriochaetes
Fusebacteria

Question 18

What is aggressive periodontitis?

Answer 18

Potentially inherited neutrophil disorder

Question 19

What antibiotics are used in aggressive periodontitis?

Answer 19

Amoxicillin
Metronidazole
Tetracycline

Question 20

What can predispose to aggressive periodontitis?

Answer 20

Diabetes, impaired healing
HIV, presence of opportunistic pathogens
Group A strep infections

Question 21

Give examples of mechanical plaque control.

Answer 21

Brushing

Flossing

Question 22

What antibiotic is used as dental prophylaxis?

Answer 22

Metronidazole

Question 23

What are the features of fluoride?

Answer 23

Found in water supplies at 1ppm concentration
Influences remineralisation
Can inhibit metabolism of plaque forming bacteria

Question 24

What is the main ideal feature of antimicrobials in oral health products?

Answer 24

Should bind to mucosa due to short contact time

Question 25

What is substantivity?

Answer 25

Ability of agents to be adsorbed to the mouth and slowly released back and redistributed around the mouth

Question 26

What forms is chlorhexidine available in?

Answer 26

Mouthwash Gel Varnish

Question 27

What is chlorhexidine?

Answer 27

Broadspectrum antimicrobial | Mutans strep is very sensitive

Question 28

What is triclosan?

Answer 28

Borad spectrum phenol | Inhibits gram negative anaerobes

Question 29

What is the mode of action of triclosan?

Answer 29

Zinc inhibits sugar acid production | Inhibits fatty acid metabolism

Question 30

What do dextranases and glucanases do?

Answer 30

Modify plaque

Question 31

What do glucose oxidase and amyloglucosidase do?

Answer 31

Boost the salivary peroxidase system

Question 32

How does quaternary ammonium improve oral health?

Answer 32

Inhibits glycan synthesis disrupting membrane integrity

Question 33

How do metal ions improve oral health?

Answer 33

Inhibit bacterial glycolysis Zinc lactate inhibits VSC synthesis Stannous fluoride inhibits caries

Question 34

How does arginine improve oral health?

Answer 34

Salts increase pH of the mouth | Blocks dental tubules

Question 35

What can be used as oral probiotics?

Answer 35

Non pathogenic mutans streptococci

Question 36

How do essential oils improve oral health?

Answer 36

Disrupt cell membranes