Effects of Dental Calculus on Oral Health:
Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease:
Dental calculus provides a rough surface that facilitates plaque accumulation and retention. This can contribute to gingival inflammation (gingivitis) and the development and progression of periodontal disease by harboring bacteria and bacterial toxins that damage the periodontal tissues.
Dental Esthetics:
Supragingival calculus deposits can cause discoloration and staining of the teeth, affecting dental esthetics.
Halitosis (Bad Breath):
Dental calculus can contribute to halitosis by providing a reservoir for odor-producing bacteria and bacterial by-products.
Prevention and Management:
Regular Dental Cleanings: Professional dental cleanings (scaling and root planing) are essential for removing calculus deposits and maintaining optimal oral health.
Good Oral Hygiene: Effective oral hygiene practices, including regular brushing and flossing, are crucial for preventing plaque accumulation and calculus formation.
Antimicrobial Agents: Mouth rinses containing antimicrobial agents, such as chlorhexidine or essential oils, may be used as adjuncts to mechanical plaque removal to help reduce bacterial load and calculus formation.
In summary, dental calculus is a hard, calcified deposit that forms on the teeth due to the mineralization of dental plaque. It can contribute to gingivitis, periodontal disease, dental esthetic problems, and halitosis. Effective prevention and management strategies, including regular dental cleanings and good oral hygiene practices, are essential for maintaining optimal oral health and preventing the adverse effects of dental calculus.
3. DENTAL CALCULUS
• Which is mineralized dental biofilm, is a hard, tenacious
mass that forms on the clinical crowns
of natural teeth and on
dentures and other
dental prostheses…
4. DENTAL CALCULUS
• Is significant in the progression
of inflammatory periodontal
disease
• The rough surface of the
subgingival calculus holds the
disease-producing
bacteria of the
dental biofilm close
to the gingival tissue
and perpetuates the
inflamed state…
5. DENTAL CALCULUS
• The control of biofilm deposits
by the patient, supplemented
by complete professional
calculus removal, can
reduce or eliminate
gingival inflammation…
6. DENTAL CALCULUS
• Comprehensive understanding of the characteristics, origin,
development, and methods of prevention of calculus is essential to
patient examination, assessment, treatment, and instruction.
7. • For successful treatment and prevention, the patient needs to know
the interelationship between biofilm, calculus; and the reasons for
the painstaking manner in which scaling procedures must be carried
out…
10. • SUBGINGIVAL
Located on the clinical
crown apical to
the margin of the
gingiva.
It extends nearly to the
bottom of the pocket. It
forms on the exposed
root surfaces and on
implants..
13. DENTAL CALCULUS
FORMATION……
2. BIOFILM MATURATION
• Microorganisms settle in the pellicle layer
• Colonies are formed
• The colonies grow together to form a cohesive biofilm layer..
15. DENTAL CALCULUS
FORMATION……3. MINERALIZATION
i. Mineralization Foci (centres) Form
• within 24 to 72 hours, more and more mineralization
centres develop close to the underlying tooth surface
• Eventually, the centres grow large enough to touch and
unite..
16. DENTAL CALCULUS
FORMATION……3. MINERALIZATION
ii. Organic Matrix
• Mineralization first occurs within the intermicrobial matrix
• Filamentous microorganisms provide the matrix for the deposition of
minerals..
17. DENTAL CALCULUS
FORMATION……3. MINERALIZATION
iii. Sources of minerals
• Supragingival: source of elements is the saliva
• Subgingival: gingival sulcus fluid and inflammatory exudate supply the
minerals..
19. . Mechanism of mineralization
Is considered same for supra and subgingival
calculus
Heavy formers have higher salivary levels of
calcium and phosphorus
Light formers have higher levels of parotid
pyrophosphate
Pyrophosphate is an inhibitor of calcification-
used in anticalculus dentrifices..
20. • Supragingival calculus forms on the tooth above the gingival margin,
and frequently develops opposite the duct orifices of the major
salivary glands.
• It is often found where saliva pools on the inner surfaces of the
lower front teeth, and can form in the fissures of teeth.
21. • Subgingival calculus forms
from calcium phosphate
and organic materials
derived from serum,
which contribute to
mineralization of plaque
beneath the gumline..
22. • Subgingival calculus is about 60% mineralized, whereas
supragingival calculus is only about 30% mineralized.
• Because it is harder, thinner, and more closely adapted
to tooth surface imperfections, subgingival calculus can
be more difficult to remove than supragingival calculus..
23. • The two types of
calculus
may differ in color.
Supragingival
calculus,
which derives its
mineral content
from saliva,
usually appears
as a yellow
to white mass
with a
chalky consistency..
24. • Subgingival calculus,
which derives its mineral
from the inflammatory
exudate in the sulcus and
gum pocket, appears gray
to black
in color and has a
flint-like consistency.
The dark coloration
may be caused by
bacterial degradation
of components of the
exudate from
bleeding that
accompanies gums
inflammation.
28. ATTACHMENT OF CALCULUS
1. By means of an acquired pellicle
2. Attachment to minute irregularities in the tooth surface by
mechanical locking into undercuts
3. Attachment by direct contact between calcified intercellular
matrix and the tooth surface..
29. SIGNIFICANCE OF DENTAL CALCULUS
• Has an important role in the development, promotion and
recurrence of gingival and periodontal infections
• Subgingival biofilm contains pathogenic bacteria that cause
inflammation and destruction in the gingival tissue and lead to loss
of attachment to the tooth surface and development and deepening
of the pocket..
30. SIGNIFICANCE OF DENTAL CALCULUS……
•With increased pocket depth more biofilm forms.
Greater flow of GSF which contains minerals for
calculus formation
•Subgingival calculus is covered by masses of biofilm
bacteria, which is in contact with the diseased
pocket epithelium and promotes gingivitis and
periodontitis
•With rough surface, permeable structure and
porosity, calculus acts as a reservoir for endotoxins
and tissue breakdown products
• ……….……
