Fluoride Mechanisms
This mineral forms when fluoride replaces the hydroxyl group in hydroxyapatite, making enamel more acid resistant.
What is fluorapatite?
This compound neutralizes plaque acids and raises oral pH.
What is sodium bicarbonate?
This preventive CAMBRA material works by physically blocking pits and fissures on occlusal surfaces, preventing bacteria and fermentable carbohydrates from accumulating.
What are dental sealants?
Patients with no new caries in the past three years, good oral hygiene, and adequate salivary flow fall into this CAMBRA risk category.
What is low caries risk?
Recall visits for low-risk patients are primarily intended for this purpose rather than active disease management.
What is maintenance and monitoring?
Fluorapatite lowers the critical pH of enamel from this value to about 4.5.
What is 5.5?
This natural oral factor helps neutralize acids and supplies minerals to slow or prevent early enamel damage during acid attacks.
What is saliva?
Sealants can arrest lesions if the caries extends no further than this portion of dentin.
What is halfway through the dentin?
White spot lesions in a moderate-risk patient indicate that this early stage of the caries process has already begun but may still be reversible.
What is enamel demineralization?
A patient has good oral hygiene, no caries in three years, and consistent fluoride exposure. According to CAMBRA, this recall interval is appropriate.
What is 6–12 months?
Fluoride inhibits this bacterial enzyme involved in glycolysis, reducing acid production by S. mutans.
What is enolase?
This salivary enzyme breaks down bacterial cell walls.
What is lysozyme.
Even when bacteria remain under a sealant, lesion progression stops because of this factor.
What is lack of nutrient supply to bacteria?
Orthodontic appliances increase caries risk primarily because they promote retention of this microbial structure on tooth surfaces.
What is dental plaque (biofilm)?
High-risk patients often require antimicrobial therapy targeting this cariogenic bacterium.
What is Streptococcus mutans?
Fluoride accelerates this process where calcium and phosphate redeposit into enamel.
What is remineralization?
This salivary protein limits bacterial growth by binding iron needed for metabolism.
What is lactoferrin?
These antimicrobial agents kill bacteria directly rather than just inhibiting growth.
What are bactericidal agents?
In extreme-risk patients, loss of saliva prolongs acidic conditions because plaque lacks this natural mechanism that normally neutralizes acids after carbohydrate consumption
What is salivary buffering capacity?
A patient with early white spot lesions and inconsistent fluoride use requires monitoring to determine whether remineralization strategies are working.
What is 4-6 months?
When plaque becomes acidic, fluoride combines with calcium on the enamel surface to form temporary calcium fluoride deposits that later release fluoride ions during future acid attacks.
What is the fluoride reservoir effect?
DAILY DOUBLE
Salivary substitutes mimic the lubrication of saliva using polymers such as this compound.
What is carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)?
These agents inhibit bacterial growth without directly killing bacteria.
What are bacteriostatic agents?
Extreme caries risk in patients with severe xerostomia occurs because the loss of saliva eliminates buffering, antimicrobial activity, and the supply of these two essential remineralizing ions.
What are calcium and phosphate ions?
A patient has multiple active carious lesions, heavy plaque accumulation, frequent sugar intake, and reduced salivary flow. According to CAMBRA, this category requires intensive preventive and antimicrobial therapy and frequent monitoring to prevent rapid lesion progression.
What is high caries risk?