Micro Final Flashcards
(136 cards)
About ___ kinds of MO’s exist in the human mouth
700 kinds
For MO’s to become established memebers of oral microbiota, they must
Attach to oral surfaces and be able to multiply
What is dental plaque
Microbial mass that accumulates on the teeth
Dental plaque accumulates due to
The absence of oral hygiene
Impacting of bacteria/food in the non self cleansing areas of the dentition
Plaque is ____ composed of bacterial cells embedded in an _____
Biofilm
Intercellular matrix
When does dental plaque begin to reform after teeth are cleaned
Within seconds
What is pelicle
Think proteinacious layer that coats all tooth surfaces exposed to saliva
Bacteria attaches to the pelicle forming
The initial layer to which other bacterial cells attach
Plaque can mineralize (accumulate calcium) forming a hardened material known as
Calculus or tartar
Dental caries is an infectious disease caused by
Demineralization of tooth structures by acids
4 types of caries
Occlusal caries
Smooth surface caries
Interproximal caries
Root caries
4 factors necessary for caries to occur
Susceptible host
Microorganisms
Substrate
Time
Microorganisms are also called
Agent factors
____ is a substrate that is metabolized by oral bacteria through catabolic fermentation to produce ____
Diet
Acids
What is the most caries conductive component of our diet
Sucrose
What are caries conductive bacteria found in the mouth
Mutans streptococci
thought to be the most important bacteria in initiating caries
3 pathogenic properties of mutans streptococci for caries formation
Producing acids from carbohydrates (being Acidogenic)
Surviving at low ph (Aciduric)
Accumulating on teeth
Mutans streptococci aka
Plaque formers
What is responsible for the initial attack on the tooth
Mutans streptococci
What is responsible for progression of carious lesions
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus thrive best within?
Highly acidic carious lesions
What is attributed to root caries formation
Actinomyces Naeslundii
What is critical level of ph that if at or below it is perfect environment for caries to form
5.2
Dental caries occur when what occurs more slowly
Remineralization occurs more slowly than demineralization