Dental Caries

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Dental Caries

• By Mary Kay and Emily Cooper

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What is Dental Caries

• Another word for tooth decay
• Formed from the accumulation of
• dental plaque

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What Causes Dental Caries?

• Bacteria in the mouth
• Most importantly- Streptococcus mutans
• Break it down

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How It Is Formed?

• Similar to a biofilm- build up of bacteria
• Bacteria creates lactic acid from sucrose and
  carbohydrates
• S. mutans attaches to the tooth (proteins coated
  on tooth)
• Lactic acid breaks down enamel for plaque

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Where?

• The mouth and teeth
• Especially crevices and places where there is a
  less chance of being destroyed

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Protection?

• Saliva contains lysozyme
• Protects exposed surfaces
• Crevicular fluid- a tissue that flushes out
  gingival crevice
• Contains phagocytic cells and immunoglobulin

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Prevention

• Lower sugar intake
• Brush and floss your teeth
• Professional cleaning
• Fluoride
• Chlorhexidine (most effective mouth wash)

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Process Pictures
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Process

• Acid and plaque gradually soften the enamel
• Decay starts
• Advanced decay
• Dentin decays
• Decay in pulp

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Bibliography

• http//jb.asm.org/content/vol188/issue14/images/me
  dium/coverfig.gif
• http//greenfield.fortunecity.com/rattler/46/image
  s/Dentalca.gif
• http//www.whatiscaries.com/images/caries.gif
• Microbiology an introduction
• http//www.drraidentalcare.com/images/tooth-decay.
  jpg
• http//www.fluorideandfluorosis.com/Diagnosis/Dent
  alCaries.jpg
• http//www.dental--health.com/images/pediatric_cav
  ities1.jpg
• http//www.setuza.cz/en/prod/pasty/img/thymolin-mi
  crogranules.jpg