Calculus

Where are the common sites to find calculus?

1. Lingual surfaces of the mandibular anterior teeth 2. Facial surfaces of the maxillary 1st and 2nd molars 3. Crowns of teeth out of normal occlusion 4. Surfaces of dentures, dental prostheses, and tongue piercings barbells

What are the 3 steps in the formation of calculus?

1. pellicle formation 2. biofilm formation 3. mineralization

What are the ways fluoride can become a component in calculus?

1. through drinking water (tap) 2. topical applications 3. dentifrices 4. some foods

What is the average amount of days it takes for a soft deposit to mineralize?

12 days; 10 for rapid calculus formers, 20 for slow calculus formers

How is dental calculus classified?

By its location related to the gingival magin: supragingival & subgingival

True or False. Mineralization can begin as early as 12 hours when oral hygiene is neglected.

FALSE; 24-48 hours

True or False. Calculus causes diseases like periodontitis and gingivitis.

FALSE; bacteria causes disease, not calculus

True or False. Calculus can not be seen on x-rays.

FALSE; calculus can be seen on xrays

True or False. Subgingival calculus can not form on dental implants.

FALSE; calculus can form on dental implants

True or False. Dentin, Enamel, and cementum has more inorganic content than mature calculus.

FALSE; calculus has more inorganic material

True or False. Calculus can only form on natural teeth and not implants and dentures.

FALSE; can form on natural teeth, implants, and dentures

True or False. The source of the elements that mineralize supragingival and subgingival calculus are the same.

FALSE; different

True or False. Heavy calculus formers have lower salivary levels of calcium and phosphorus than light calculus formers.

FALSE; higher levels

True or False. The amount of sulcus fluid and exudate increases with decreased inflammation.

FALSE; increased inflammation

True or False. Calculus control dentifrices helps the patient remove their calculus.

FALSE; the calculus control dentifrices inhibits calculus crystal growth supragingivally, but does not remove existing calculus

True or False. The chemical content of supragingival and subgingival calculus is different.

FALSE; they have the same chemical content

True or False. At least 2/3 of of the inorganic matter of calculus is crystalline mostly made of hydroxyapatite.

TRUE

True or False. Calculus removal is a major objective in nonsurgical periodontal therapy.

TRUE

True or False. It is difficult to differentiate between calculus and cementum.

TRUE

True or False. Light calculus formers have higher levels of parotid pyrophosphate.

TRUE

True or False. Pyrophosphate is used in anticalculus dentifrices.

TRUE

True or False. Subgingival calculus can be detected by using transillumination.

TRUE

True or False. Subgingival calculus can extend apically to the clinical attachment on the root surface.

TRUE

True or False. Subgingival calculus is always covered by masses of active biofilm bacteria?

TRUE

True or False. The most abundant component of calculus is made of inorganic materials.

TRUE

True or False. The pellicle attachment is easier to remove because of the smooth attachment.

TRUE

What can make calculus more visible?

The use of air to clear away saliva and/or the gingival margin

What should a hygienist teach the patient so that they can effectively remove biofilm daily?

They should show the patient the correct equipment and procedures for their individual mouth

When can calculus not me detected on an xray?

When there is overlapping

What are the major inorganic components of calculus?

calcium, phosphorus, carbonate, sodium, magnesium, and potassium

What is the source of elements for subgingival calculus?

gingival sulcus fluid and inflammatory exudate

Mineralization consists of crystal formation, what are the crystals made of?

hydroxyapatite, octacalcium, phosphate, whitlockite, and brushite

What are the lines between the layers of calculus called?

incremental lines

What is dental calculus?

mineralized biofilm

What is the source of elements for supragingival calculus?

saliva

How is calculus referenced during instrumentation for diagnosis and treatment planning?

slight, moderate, and heavy

What are other terms for subgingival calculus?

submarginal serumal

What are other names to describe supragingival calculus?

supramarginal extragingival coronal salivary