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Standard 7: Obj. 1
Outline the dental caries process
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1. Acids in plaque attack the tooth | remove minerals in your tooth's hard, outer enamel. This erosion causes tiny openings or holes in the enamel — the first stage of cavities. Once areas of enamel are worn away, the bacteria and acid can reach the next layer of your teeth, called dentin. |
| 2. Calcium and phosphate are dissolved from the enamel (demineralization) | may be either precipitated together somewhere else in the tooth or lost to the mouth via the plaque and saliva. |
| 3. Fluoride, calcium, and phosphate are re-deposited into the tooth (remineralization) | natural repair process for non-cavitated tooth lesions, in which --ions are deposited into crystal voids in demineralised enamel. -- can contribute towards restoring strength and function within tooth structure. |
| 4. Acids in saliva attack the tooth | does not have enough capacity to aid in neutralization. The teeth are subjected to tooth erosion, increased tooth wear and in the presence of bacteria tooth decay. |