University of Nairobi

College of health Sciences

School of Dental Sciences
Department of Conservative and Prosthetic Dentistry.

Student Name; Elisha Kihembe Ndakama

Registration Number; V60/38447/2020
Course; Master of Dental Surgery in Prosthodontics
Academic year; 2020/21

Assignment.

Introduction.

1. Dental caries.
Is defined as a localized, chemical dissolution of a tooth
surface brought about by metabolic activity in a microbial
deposit (a dental biofilm) covering a tooth surface at any
given time.

Dental biofilm; Is a microbial biomass composed of resident

bacteria from saliva. The dental biofilm is disturbed when
brushing the teeth. The micro-organisms metabolize sugars
from the diet and, as a waste product, produce acid. This
acid can demineralize enamel, dentine, and cementum, and
the lesions manifest themselves clinically in a variety of
ways.

Dental caries lesions may develop at any tooth site in the

oral cavity, there are no parts of a tooth that are ‘more
resistant’ or ‘less susceptible’ to develop dental caries
lesion due to variations in the chemical and structural
composition.

Dental caries lesions develop at relatively ‘protected sites’

in the dentition, where dental biofilms are allowed to
accumulate and mature over time. Such sites include pits,
grooves, and fissures in occlusal surfaces, especially during
eruption, approximal surfaces cervical to the contact
point/area, and along the gingival margin, these areas are
relatively protected from mechanical influence from the
tongue, cheeks, and abrasive foods, and tooth brushing.
Therefore, biofilm is allowed to stagnate there for prolonged
periods of time.

2. Etiology

Dental
Ecology
Role of saliva in dental caries
Diagnosis
Management.