Definition and basics
Tartar
What is dental calculus commonly called?
70–80%
What percentage of dental calculus is inorganic salts?
Biofilm formation
What is the first stage in calculus development?
Above the gum line
Where is supragingival calculus located?
Direct vision
Name one visual method for detecting calculus
False- bacteria in biofilm cause periodontal disease, not calculus itself.
True or false? Calculus directly causes periodontal disease
Calcium and phosphorus
Name two main minerals found in inorganic salts
Nucleation theory
Which theory of formation is considered most likely?
Below the gum line.
Where is subgingival calculus found?
BPE probe
Which instrument is commonly used for probing calculus?
Minerals from saliva and biofilm accumulation
What two main factors contribute to calculus formation?
Protein and carbohydrates (others include lipids, dead epithelial cells).
List two components of the organic portion of calculus
A snowball or grain of sand forming a pearl.
What analogy is used to explain nucleation theory?
White or yellow (commonly lighter)
Which colour is supragingival calculus typically?
Makes calculus more visible by removing saliva.
What role does air drying play in detection?
Gingivitis and periodontitis
Which oral health problems can result if calculus is not removed?
Two-thirds
What proportion of mineral salts are in crystalline form?
On the lingual surfaces of lower anterior teeth and buccal surfaces of upper molars
Where is supragingival calculus most commonly found?
Dark brown or black
Which color is subgingival calculus typically?
Show dense deposits on tooth surfaces
How do radiographs help in detecting calculus?
Biofilm provides the base for mineralisation and crystal formation
What is the role of biofilm in calculus formation?
Hydroxyapatite, Magnesium whitlockite, Octacalcium phosphate, Calcium brushite.
Name all four crystalline forms found in calculus
Saliva composition, oral hygiene habits, diet, age, and systemic conditions.
Which factors influence the rate of calculus formation?
Blood pigments from gingival crevicular fluid
What factor influences the color of subgingival calculus?
It allows patients to clean effectively, reducing periodontal disease risk.
Why does removing calculus improve oral health?