Preventive Procedures 1 (Midterm Review: Outcome 1-4.4) Flashcards
(122 cards)
Preventive Dentistry
The practice of caring for your teeth to keep them healthy
- Includes: use of fluorides, application of dental sealants, proper nutrition, and plaque control
Oral Prophylaxis
The complete removal of calculus (a hard-mineralized deposited attached to the teeth), debris, stain, and plaque from the teeth with the use of hand instruments (exploring), ultrasonic scaling, and coronal polishing.
- Commonly known as prophy or cleaning
Why is prevention important?
A partnership must be formed between patient and dental healthcare team.
There are several steps in helping patients obtain their optimal oral health.
1. Helping patient understand what causes dental disease and how to prevent it.
2. Motivating patients to change their behaviours and educating them on recognizing and preventing dental disease in themselves and their families
- Oral health does affect the overall body system (direct correlation with oral cavity and overall health)
- If calculus is not removed, can lead to bone loss
What is the primary treatment for gingivitis?
Dental Prophylaxis
What are the different types of oral prophylaxis procedures?
- Scaling (non-surgical)
- Root planing (non-surgical)
- Gingival curettage (surgical)
- Coronal polishing (non-surgical)
- Fluoride
What is scaling?
The removal of calculus deposits (supragingival - above the gum line) from the teeth with the use of suitable instruments
- Non-surgical
- Can only be performed by D.H. Dentist, or DA (who has taken additional education - PDM)
What is root planing?
Follows scaling procedures to remove any remaining particles of calculus and necrotic cementum embedded in the root surface
- non-surgical
- Can only be completed by D.H. or dentist
What is gingival curettage?
Scraping or cleaning of the gingival lining of the pocket with a sharp curette to remove necrotic (diseased) tissue from the pocket wall
- Subgingival (below gum line)
- Surgical
- can only be completed by DH or dentist
What is coronal polishing?
A procedure that removes plaque and stains from the coronal surfaces of the teeth
- strictly limited to the clinical crown (visible within oral cavity)
- can be performed by DA, DH, dentist
What is fluoride in preventive dentistry?
Naturally occurring minerals help prevent cavities
- Fluoride can be prescribed and then delegated to the DA who can apply fluoride
What procedures can be done by Registered Dental Assistants with supervision from RDH or dentist?
- Fluoride
- Coronal polishing
What are dental deposits?
- Calculus (hard deposits - mineralized)
- Plaque (soft deposits)
- Stain on supragingival and unattached subgingival tooth surfaces
What are soft deposits?
Oral Biofilm (also known as plaque, dental plaque biofilm, microbial biofilm)
- a colourless, soft, sticky coating made up of communities of microorganisms that adheres to tooth surfaces, dental appliances, restorations of teeth, oral mucosa, tongue, and alveolar bone
What is the significance of soft deposits?
- Dental caries, gingival and periodontal infections are caused by microorganisms from a person’s dental plaque
- Dental biofilm is a primary risk for gingivitis, inflammatory periodontal diseases and dental caries
- Severe periodontal disease: once plaque gets removed, the bone loss is irreversible
What are the different types of tooth deposits?
- Acquired pellicle
- Materia alba
- Food debris
- Dental biofilm
Acquire Pellicle
A thin film of salivary proteins (glycoproteins) that quickly forms on teeth
- can be removed by coronal polishing with an abrasive agent (e.g. prophy paste)
- Pellicle begins to form and is fully formed within 30-90 minutes
- immediate upon exposure to saliva after eruption or after all soft/hard deposits have been removed from tooth surfaces
What is the significance of Pellicle?
Plays an important role in the maintenance of oral health:
- Protective
- provide a barrier against acids, impacting remineralization and demineralization - Lubrications
- keeps surfaces moist and prevents drying, which enhances the efficiency of speech and mastication - Nidus (place) for bacteria
- participates in biofilm formation by aiding the adherence of microorganisms - Attachment of calculus
- one mode of calculus attachment
How do you remove pellicle?
Pellicle is not resilient (strong) enough to withstand rigorous patient oral self-care
Extrinsic factors that may interfere with pellicle formation and maturation:
1. Abrasive toothpastes
2. Whitening products
3. Intake of acidic foods and beverages
What is materia alba?
A soft, whitish tooth deposit that is clinically visible without the application of a disclosing agent.
- Resembles cottage cheese
What is the composition of materia alba?
Materia alba is an unorganized accumulation of:
1. Living and dead bacteria
2. Desquamated (peels of) epithelial cells
3. Disintegrating leukocytes
4. Salivary proteins
5. Food debris
*This differentiates it from organized oral biofilms
How do you remove materia alba?
Can be easily removed by the patient or:
- Water spray
- Oral irrigator
- Tongue action
What is food debris?
Food remnants after food consumption collected about the cervical third and proximal embrasures of the teeth
What is Dental Biofilm?
A dynamic, structured community of microorganisms, encapsulated in a self-produced extracellular polymeric (repeating) substance (EPS) forming a matric around microcolonies
The mouth has a number of environments (teeth, gingival sulcus, attached gingiva, tongue, oral mucosa, lips, hard/soft palate) with their own microbial inhabitants
What are the 5 stages in the formation of biofilm?
It begins with the initial attachment of bacterial cells to the pellicle on the tooth surface.
Stage 1 - Formation
Stage 2 - Bacterial Multiplication and colonization
Stage 3 - Matrix formation
Stage 4 - Biofilm growth
Stage 5 - Maturation