Which teeth are most susceptible to decay?
Molars and premolars have numerous pits and fissures that are great for grinding food, but also attract bacteria and leftover food bits. It’s difficult to brush every nook and cranny, so these teeth are the ones that most often develop cavities and other problems.
Which materials protect the teeth from caries?
Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral, helps prevent cavities and can even reverse the earliest stages of tooth damage. Because of its benefits for teeth, fluoride is added to many public water supplies. It’s also a common ingredient in toothpaste and mouth rinses.
Which tooth characteristics contribute to the susceptibility to develop caries?
Anatomical grooves, or pits and fissures on occlusal surfaces of permanent molars can trap food particles and promote the presence of bacterial biofilm, increasing the risk of developing caries lesions.
What is root surface caries?
Root caries is any carious lesion which occurs on the root surface of the tooth and is more prevalent in older people. Lesions are discoloured, softened and ill defined but may or may not be cavitated.
How can I protect my teeth from cavities naturally?
The following home remedies might help prevent cavities or treat “pre-cavities” by remineralizing weakened areas of your enamel before a cavity develops:
- Sugar-free gum.
- Vitamin D.
- Brush with fluoride toothpaste.
- Cut out sugary foods.
- Oil pulling.
- Licorice root.
How can we protect our teeth?
Gum Disease
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss regularly.
- Visit your dentist routinely for a checkup and cleaning. Tell the dentist about any medical conditions you have and medications you take.
- Eat a well-balanced diet.
- Quit smoking. Smoking increases your risk for gum disease.
What are susceptible tooth surfaces?
Individual tooth surfaces have vastly different susceptibilities to caries, with the pit and fissure (occlusal) surfaces the most susceptible, and the smooth (labial and lingual) surfaces the least susceptible. 3,4. The most frequent sites of attack are the occlusal surfaces of the first and second permanent molars.
Why is the cementum covering root surfaces more susceptible to caries than enamel?
Dentin and cementum are more susceptible to caries than enamel because they have lower mineral content. Thus, when root surfaces of teeth are exposed from gingival recession or periodontal disease, caries can develop more readily.
What are tooth surfaces?
The five tooth surfaces are occlusal (top of the tooth), mesial (front of the tooth), distal (back of the tooth), facial (side of the tooth facing the cheek), and lingual (side of the tooth facing the tongue).
Which tooth surfaces are most susceptible to dental caries?
… The susceptibility of different tooth surfaces to dental caries is markedly different, with the pit and fissure (occlusal) surfaces the most susceptible and the smooth (labial and lingual) surfaces the least susceptible. (7, 2). The most frequent sites of attack are the occlusal surfaces of the first and second permanent molars (2).
Are there groups of tooth sites for caries susceptibility in children?
This study tests the hypothesis that in children, there are groups of tooth sites that exhibit differences in caries susceptibility. Probit analysis of caries data collected from a 4-year longitudinal study of 20,000 schoolchildren aged between 5 and 16 years in 10 differing locations in the United States.
Is there a surface hierarchy in susceptibility to dental caries?
While the absolute levels of disease have declined, a relatively higher proportion of pit and fissured surfaces and lower proportion of approximal and smooth surfaces are involved. An additional feature in the pattern of dental caries is the existence of a surface hierarchy in susceptibility to caries [ 1 – 4 ].
What is the dental caries situation among adults?
However, dental caries situation among adults is generally disappointing, as it tends to be in the worldwide population. The susceptibility of different tooth surfaces to dental caries is markedly different, with the pit and fissure (occlusal) surfaces the most susceptible and the smooth (labial and lingual) surfaces the least susceptible (2, 7).