Glossary of Terms
 Other Resources
• Baby Teeth (deciduous teeth):
Also known as deciduous teeth, primary or milk teeth, baby teeth are the teeth that children have due to the fact that infant jaws are too small to accommodate adult-sized teeth. Through the process called eruption or teething, the deciduous teeth begin to push through the gums between the ages of 6 months and 1 year. At this point, the crown (the portion of a tooth covered by enamel) is complete and the root is almost fully formed. By the time a child is 3 years old, he or she has a set of 20 deciduous teeth, 10 in the lower
and 10 in the upper jaw. Each jaw has four incisors, two canines, and four molars.
At around the age of 6, the jaws and jaw muscles have grown in size
and strength, and can then tolerate the arrival of permanent adult teeth. When the adult teeth start to push through the gums, the rootless baby teeth become loose and are ready to come out. The baby teeth help the permanent adult teeth to push through into their normal positions and most of the permanent teeth form close to the roots of the baby teeth. In most cases, a person is finished losing his or her baby teeth at around the age of 12.
• Bone Loss:
Bone loss is the decrease in the bone supporting the roots of teeth, which commonly results in gum disease.
Gum disease begins when plaque is not effectively removed by daily brushing and flossing. Plaque is composed of bacteria that can cause destruction to the gums, connective tissues, and the bones that join teeth to the jaw.
Bone loss occurs because the bacteria from plaque produces toxins and enzymes under the gum-line, which causes an infection. This infection causes the immune system to respond and the body releases chemical substances called cytokines which cause many reactions within the gum and surrounding tissue. This ultimately causes the breakdown of the gum and bone. The loss of gum and bone then causes the formation of a periodontal pocket which, if allowed to remain irritated, could cause more severe consequences and the bone next to the inflamed gums will reabsorb, or shrink away.
• Bone Resorption:
Bone resorption, simply stated, is the gradual loss of bone. Bone is under a constant process of resorption and formation. As this process continues as we age, formation lessens and, after a peak bone mass is achieved, bone mass becomes and remains stable as resorption and formation are equal).
• Calcium:
Calcium, chemical symbol Ca, is the chemical element that is needed for healthy teeth, bones and nerves. It plays a very important role in building healthy teeth and bones, as well as in the nervous system because it is required for normal communication between nerve cells. It ensures that our muscles contract and that our hearts beat.
Calcium is also the major mineral found in bones and teeth. Along with phosphorus and other nutrients, calcium builds the hard structure that makes bones and teeth strong. We also need calcium for proper muscle and nerve function, blood clotting, and other body processes. A high intake of dietary calcium in childhood is associated with healthy adult bones so dentists and pediatricians recommend that children get calcium through a balanced diet. A lack of calcium can lead to brittle fingernails, headaches, irritability, tooth decay and, later in life, Osteoporosis, the condition that causes bones to become brittle. Be ware of too much calcium in the diet, however, as that can lead to problems such as constipation and kidney stones.
• Calculus:
Calculus is the hard residue that forms on teeth when oral hygiene is not complete or improper. Calculus is formed from plaque which can build up on teeth and then becomes hard. This hard plaque is also known as tartar or calculus. A dentist or hygienist must remove calculus manually to prevent infection and halt the disease process.
Plaque can be removed from tooth surfaces by direct brushing. It is possible to have a mouth with plaque but no calculus. Calculus is formed when the mineral salts in plaque get deposited on the tooth’s surface. It is hard and sticks firmly to the tooth surfaces on which it forms so it cannot be removed by brushing. Calculus acts as a focal point where plaque and bacteria accumulate thereby hindering the complete removal of plaque. Both plaque and calculus play an important role in gum disease. As gums "pull away" from the teeth, as a result of gum-disease, pockets begin to form between the teeth and gums. Plaque and calculus fill these pockets until the jawbone supporting the teeth are eventually destroyed. The rate of calculus formation varies from person to person.
There are treatments to remove or prevent calculus build-up. They are numerous and include surgical and non-surgical procedures. |
