This is part 1 of a 10-part series entitled Caries Process and Prevention Strategies. Oral epidemiology is the area of public health that deals with the distribution and the impact of oral disease on the human population. In this course, emphasis is placed on the relevance of epidemiology to clinical practice and information about the prevalence, incidence and trends of dental caries in the United States is presented. The term DMF (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) is introduced, along with variations and limitations of the DMF index, and an explanation of how to calculate DMF scores.
Introduction
This is part 1 of a 10-part series entitled Caries Process and Prevention Strategies. Oral epidemiology is the area of public health that deals with the distribution and the impact of oral disease on the human population. In this course, emphasis is placed on the relevance of epidemiology to clinical practice and information about the prevalence, incidence and trends of dental caries in the United States is presented. The term DMF (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) is introduced, along with variations and limitations of the DMF index, and an explanation of how to calculate DMF scores.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement
Disclaimer: Participants must always be aware of the hazards of using limited knowledge in integrating new techniques or procedures into their practice. Only sound evidence-based dentistry should be used in patient therapy.
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RELATED COURSES
Susan Higham BSc, PhD, CBiol, MRSB; Chris Hope BSc (Hons), PhD, FHEA; Sabeel Valappil BSc, MSc, PhD, PGCertEd, FHEA; Phil Smith BDS, MDS, PhD, FDS, DRD, MRD, FDS (Rest Dent) RCS (Edin), FHEA
This is part 3 of a 10-part series entitled Caries Process and Prevention Strategies. It has been established that a host must be present for caries to develop. In this course, three host factors – the tooth, saliva, and the oral cavity’s immune response – are introduced, and their roles in the caries process are explained.
Intended Audience:
Dentists, Dental Therapists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Nurses, Dental Students, Dental Therapy Students, Dental Hygiene Students, Dental Nursing Students
Susan Higham BSc, PhD, CBiol, MRSB; Chris Hope BSc (Hons), PhD, FHEA; Sabeel Valappil BSc, MSc, PhD, PGCertEd, FHEA; Phil Smith BDS, MDS, PhD, FDS, DRD, MRD, FDS (Rest Dent) RCS (Edin), FHEA
This is part 4 of a 10-part series entitled Caries Process and Prevention Strategies. In this course, the role of fermentable carbohydrates is discussed, paying particular attention to how caries can be influenced by the cariogenic potential of ingested sugars and starches, the physical traits of ingested carbohydrates (such as their adhesiveness), and the frequency of intake and exposure to sugars. The Stephan curve, which illustrates the dental pH changes over time in response to a carbohydrate challenge, is also introduced, with a discussion of how factors such as the type of carbohydrate, the buffering capacity of saliva, and the type and amount of bacteria present in plaque affect dental plaque pH responses.
Intended Audience:
Dentists, Dental Therapists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Nurses, Dental Students, Dental Therapy Students, Dental Hygiene Students, Dental Nursing Students