BDS Preventive Dentistry Flashcards

24 sample cards from the Preventive Dentistry deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. Name three non-cariogenic sugar substitutes used to reduce caries risk.

   Xylitol, sorbitol, and mannitol (sugar alcohols); xylitol also has anti-Streptococcus mutans activity.

2. Regarding diet counseling, why is the FREQUENCY of sugar intake more important than the total amount?

   Each sugar exposure triggers an acid attack (Stephan Curve drop) lasting ~30–60 minutes, so frequent snacking keeps plaque pH low for longer cumulative periods, causing more demineralization than a single large intake.

3. What is the primary etiological factor in both dental caries and periodontal disease that plaque control targets?

   Dental plaque (a bacterial biofilm); its removal is the cornerstone of preventing both diseases.

4. What is dental plaque (biofilm)?

   A structured, adherent community of microorganisms embedded in an extracellular matrix of bacterial and salivary polymers that forms on tooth surfaces.

5. What is the acquired pellicle and its role in plaque formation?

   A thin, cell-free layer of salivary glycoproteins that adsorbs onto the tooth surface within minutes; it is the initial substrate to which early colonizing bacteria attach.

6. What is the recommended toothbrushing technique for effective plaque removal at the gingival margin?

   The modified Bass technique: bristles angled at $45^{\circ}$ toward the gingival sulcus with short vibratory strokes to clean the sulcular area.

7. Which chemical agent is considered the 'gold standard' antiplaque mouth rinse?

   Chlorhexidine gluconate (commonly $0.12\%$ or $0.2\%$), due to its substantivity (prolonged binding to oral tissues).

8. What are two common side effects of long-term chlorhexidine mouthwash use?

   Extrinsic brown staining of teeth and tongue, and altered/reduced taste sensation (also increased calculus formation).

9. Which interdental aids are recommended for cleaning between teeth?

   Dental floss (for tight contacts) and interdental brushes (for larger interproximal spaces/open embrasures).

10. What index is commonly used to quantify plaque levels for oral hygiene assessment?

    The Plaque Index (Silness and Löe) or the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S by Greene and Vermillion).

11. What are the classic clinical signs of healthy gingiva?

    Coral pink color, stippled ('orange peel') texture, firm consistency, knife-edge margins, and no bleeding on probing.

12. What is gingivitis and is it reversible?

    Inflammation of the gingiva (redness, swelling, bleeding on probing) confined to soft tissue with no attachment loss; it is reversible with adequate plaque control.

13. What clinical feature distinguishes periodontitis from gingivitis?

    Periodontitis involves irreversible loss of connective tissue attachment and alveolar bone (true pocketing, clinical attachment loss), whereas gingivitis has no attachment loss.

14. What is the normal healthy gingival sulcus probing depth?

    Approximately $1$–$3\ \text{mm}$.

15. What is the goal of School Dental Health Programs?

    To promote oral health in children through education, screening, preventive measures (fluoride mouthrinse programs, sealant programs), and referral, reaching a captive population early.

16. Name a common school-based preventive measure delivered as a rinse.

    Weekly or fortnightly $0.2\%$ sodium fluoride mouthrinse programs (or daily $0.05\%$ NaF rinse).

17. In health education, what are the three domains of learning that behavior-change models address?

    Cognitive (knowledge), affective (attitudes/beliefs), and psychomotor (skills/behavior) domains.

18. What is the purpose of caries risk assessment (e.g., CAMBRA)?

    To evaluate an individual's balance of risk factors (bacteria, poor hygiene, diet) versus protective factors (fluoride, saliva) to categorize caries risk and tailor preventive management.

19. List three major risk factors for dental caries.

    High/frequent sugar intake, poor oral hygiene (plaque accumulation), and reduced salivary flow (xerostomia); others include high Streptococcus mutans counts and lack of fluoride exposure.

20. How does saliva protect against caries?

    Through mechanical clearance of food/bacteria, buffering acids (bicarbonate system), providing calcium and phosphate for remineralization, and antibacterial components (IgA, lysozyme, lactoferrin).

21. What is interceptive orthodontics?

    Orthodontic intervention that recognizes and eliminates a developing (potential) malocclusion in the early/mixed dentition to reduce or prevent its severity — e.g., space maintenance, correcting crossbites, habit control.

22. Why is a space maintainer used after early loss of a primary tooth?

    To preserve the arch space (E-space) for the permanent successor and prevent adjacent teeth from drifting, which would otherwise cause crowding or impaction — a key interceptive orthodontic measure.

23. What is the earliest clinical sign of enamel caries (early detection target)?

    The 'white spot lesion' — a chalky, opaque area of subsurface enamel demineralization with an intact surface, which is potentially reversible through remineralization.

24. In pediatric dentistry, what is Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and a primary preventive strategy against it?

    ECC is the presence of one or more decayed, missing, or filled tooth surfaces in a child under 6 years; a key preventive strategy is avoiding prolonged nighttime bottle/breast feeding with sugary liquids ('nursing/bottle caries') and early fluoride exposure.

What this deck covers

Preventive Dentistry flashcards FAQ