dentistry

1. DENTAL HEALTH LECTURE 2
ANATOMY OF THE TEETH AND OUTLINE OF THE COMMON ORAL & DENTAL
DISEASES/PROBLEMS
Tooth structure
 Crown= part of the tooth visible in the mouth. Root= part of the tooth
embedded in the alveolar bone. Neck= junction between the crown
and root. Alveolar bone=the part of the maxilla and mandible that
holds the roots.

2.  Enamel= the calcified outer covering of the crown. Cementum= the
calcified outer covering of the root. Dentine= the mineralized layer
that is deep to enamel and cementum.
 Pulp cavity=the cavity inside the tooth that contains nerves and blood
vessels. Periodontal membranes= the fibrous tissues that connects the
root to the alveolar bone
COMMON ORAL/DENTAL DISEASE
 Both soft and hard tissues of the oral region can be affected by
diseases.
 Some diseases arise confined within the oral region while some
systemic diseases manifest in the oral region.
INFECTIONS
 Infection may be due to bacteria, virus and fungi. Most
infections are caused by bacteria.
 Bacteria infection= Pain + Swelling (cellulitis/abscess). Main
bacteria are streptococcus and staphylococcus
 Viral= Herpes simplex (herpes labialis)
 Fungus= oral candidiasis
DENTAL CARIES (TOOTH DECAY)
 Affects both deciduous and permanent teeth
 Leading cause of tooth loss
 Caused by bacteria and dental plague
PERIODONTITIS= Inflammation of the periodontium (alveolar bone,
cemntum and periodontal membrane)
 Second common cause of tooth loss
 Affects/destroys the periodontal membrane and the alveolar
bone

3.  The teeth become mobile and there is tendency of bleeding after
brushing
 Mainly caused by poor oral hygiene
GINGIVITIS= Inflammation of the gingival (gum)
 The gums becomes red and sometimes swollen
 Main cause is poor oral hygiene. It could be due to systemic
diseases
TUMORS
 Either benign or malignant
 Affects the bones and/or the soft tissues
 Benign= ameloblastoma, gingival epulis, fibroma etc
 Malignant= squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma,
kaposis sarcoma,pigmented navi,
CYSTS
 Affects both hard and soft tissues
 Examples= odontogenic keratocyst, radicular cyst, eruption cyst,
salivary gland cyst
ULCERS
 Can be caused by infection(herpes simplex,aids virus),
malignancy(carcinomas), traumatic, idiopathic
LEUKOPLAKIA
 Are white patches of the oral mucosa
 Causes= cigarette smoking, trauma, systemic diseases, candida
infection etc
TRAUMA
 Fractures of teeth and bones.
 Cuts from sharp objects
TMJ DISORDERS
 Arthritis and TMJ pain dysfunction syndrome
 Dislocation of the mandible

4.  Fracture of the condyl/coronoid process
NEUROLOGICAL
 Trigeminal neuralgia
 Facial nerve palsy
MALOCCLUSION
 Teeth are arranged in a disorderly manner
 Causes esthetic and occlusion problems
TEETH DISCOLOURATION
 May be caused by excessive fluoride in water, tetracycline,
fillings, dental caries
 Causes esthetic problems. It may also weaken the tooth
IMPACTED TEETH
 Complete or partially unerupted
 Commonly with wisdom teeth
MISSING TEETH
 Causes= extraction, congenitally missing or impacted
 Commonly with wisdom teeth
XEROSTOMIA
 Dryness of the mouth
 Causes= diseases of the salivary glands, blockage of the salivary
duct, dehydration, sympathetic nerve activation, drugs,
head/neck irradiation
BENIGN MIGRATORY GLOSSITIS
 Characterized by rapid appearance and disappearance of
atrophic areas with a white demarcated border on the dorsum
and lateral surface of the tongue.
 Is due to temporary loss of filiform papillae

5.  Self limiting
CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS
 cleft lip/palate
 abnormalities of tooth form= double teeth,
macrodontia,microdontia