Download What is Dental Caries

Dental
Caries
By Mary
Kay and
Emily Cooper
What is Dental Caries
• Another word for
tooth decay
• Formed from the
accumulation of
dental plaque
What Causes Dental Caries?
• Bacteria in the
mouth
• Most importantly-
Streptococcus
mutans
• Break it down
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
Where?
• The mouth and
teeth
• Especially crevices
and places where
there is a less
chance of being
destroyed
Protection?
• Saliva contains lysozyme
• Protects exposed surfaces
• Crevicular fluid- a tissue that flushes
out gingival crevice
• Contains phagocytic cells and
immunoglobulin
Prevention
• Lower sugar intake
• Brush and floss your teeth
• Professional cleaning
• Fluoride
• Chlorhexidine (most effective
mouth wash)
Process Pictures
Process
• Acid and plaque gradually
soften the enamel
• Decay starts
• Advanced decay
• Dentin decays
• Decay in pulp
Bibliography
• http://jb.asm.org/content/vol188/issue14/images/medium/c
overfig.gif
• http://greenfield.fortunecity.com/rattler/46/images/Dentalc
a.gif
• http://www.whatiscaries.com/images/caries.gif
• Microbiology: an introduction
• http://www.drraidentalcare.com/images/tooth-decay.jpg
• http://www.fluorideandfluorosis.com/Diagnosis/DentalCari
es.jpg
• http://www.dental-health.com/images/pediatric_cavities1.jpg
• http://www.setuza.cz/en/prod/pasty/img/thymolinmicrogranules.jpg