Tooth pathology is any condition of the
teeth that can be congenital or acquired. Sometimes a congenital tooth diseases are called ''tooth abnormalities''. These are among the most common
diseases in
humans The
prevention,
diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of these diseases are the base to the
dentistry
Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions o ...
profession, in which are
dentist
A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry (the diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the mouth, oral cavity and other aspects of the craniofaci ...
s and
dental hygienists, and its sub-
specialties, such as
oral medicine,
oral and maxillofacial surgery, and
endodontics. Tooth pathology is usually separated from other types of dental issues, including
enamel hypoplasia
Enamel hypoplasia is a defect of the teeth in which the enamel is deficient in quantity, caused by defective enamel matrix formation during enamel development, as a result of inherited and acquired systemic condition(s). It can be identified as m ...
and
tooth wear.
Examples
Congenital
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Anodontia
Anodontia is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the congenital absence of all primary or permanent teeth. It is divided into two subsections, complete absence of teeth or only some absence of teeth. It is associated with the group of skin ...
Acquired
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Dental caries—Dental caries are known as cavities or tooth decay
Bacteria in the mouth use foods that contain
sugar
Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or double ...
or
starch
Starch or amylum is a polymeric carbohydrate consisting of numerous glucose units joined by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by most green plants for energy storage. Worldwide, it is the most common carbohydrate in human diets ...
to produce
acid
In computer science, ACID ( atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) is a set of properties of database transactions intended to guarantee data validity despite errors, power failures, and other mishaps. In the context of databases, a sequ ...
s which eat away at the tooth’s structure causing destruction to the
enamel of the teeth. Meanwhile, the minerals in
saliva
Saliva (commonly referred to as spit) is an extracellular fluid produced and secreted by salivary glands in the mouth. In humans, saliva is around 99% water, plus electrolytes, mucus, white blood cells, epithelial cells (from which DNA can be ...
(
calcium and
phosphate) together with fluoride are repairing the enamel. Dental caries is a
chronic disease that can be prevented and show strongly in 6- to 11-year-old children and 12- to 19-year-old adolescents. 9 out of 10 adults are affected with some type of tooth decay. Prevention includes good
oral hygiene that consists of brushing twice daily,
flossing
Dental floss is a cord of thin filaments used in interdental cleaning to remove food and dental plaque from between teeth or places a toothbrush has difficulty reaching or is unable to reach. Its regular use as part of oral cleaning is designed t ...
, eating nutritious meals and limiting snacking, and visiting the dentist on a regular basis. Fluoride treatments benefit the teeth by strengthening while sealants help chewing surfaces to not decay.
Severe cases can lead to
tooth extraction and
dentures.
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Dental abscess—A dental abscess is a collection of pus that accumulates in teeth or gums as a result of bacterial infection, giving rise to a severe throbbing pain at the site of the abscess. It is caused by consuming sugary or starchy food and poor dental hygiene and is treated by a dentist by draining the pus and, possibly, removing the infected tooth/teeth altogether.
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See also
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Oral medicine
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Oral and maxillofacial pathology
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Tongue disease
Tongue diseases can be congenital or acquired, and are multiple in number. Considered according to a surgical sieve, some example conditions which can involve the tongue are discussed below. Glossitis is a general term for tongue inflammation, whi ...
References
External links
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