Decalcification

Question 1

What causes decalcification?

Answer 1

• poor OH
• high sugar diet
• high frequency sugar
• fixed appliances

Question 2

How can decalcification be prevented?

Answer 2

• patient selection
• educate patients - OHI, diet advice
• monitor patients
• use of fluoride
• diet sheet

Question 3

Clinical factors to prevent decalcification?

Answer 3

• remove and prevent stagnation areas
• auxiliary use - stainless steel ligatures over elastomerics
• removal of wires
• removal of appliance

Question 4

How can decalcification be treated?

Answer 4

• fluoride toothpaste
• toothmousse
• microabrasion - hydrofluoric acid 18% and pumice

Question 5

How much fluoride should mouthwash and toothpaste have?

Answer 5

Paste - 1450 ppm

Wash - 250 ppm

Question 6

Can white spot lesions improve after orthodontic treatment?

Answer 6

Yes - they can improve by 50% 6 months after treatment is complete

Question 7

What is decalcification?

Answer 7

Teeth lose calcium
Demineralisation of teeth
Early tooth decay

Question 8

What micro organism is plaque caused by?

Answer 8

Streptococcus Mutans

Question 9

What immediate advice would you give to a patient regarding immediate management of decalcification?

Answer 9

• show patient the decalcification
• advise the use of tooth mousse
• use of a normal fluoride tooth paste (1450 ppm)
• visit GDP for examination

Question 10

What tooth is most commonly effected by decalcification?

Answer 10

Maxillary lateral incisor