Oral Microbiology Short And Long Essay Question And Answers

Oral Microbiology Important Notes

1. Dental plaque consists of

• Bacteria
• Epithelial cells
• Macrophage
• Leucocytes

2. Factors producing dental caries

• Host – structure of tooth and nature of saliva
• Diet – carbohydrate rich diet
• Time – repeated ingestion of carbohydrate at short interval
• Microbial flora – Mainly Streptococcus mutans

Oral Microbiology Long Essays

Question 1. Discuss normal oral flora. What is the pathogenesis of dental plaque formation?
Answer:

Normal Oral Flora:

• The normal resident oral flora occupies available colonization sites which makes it more difficult for other micro-organisms to become established.
• At birth, the oral cavity is usually sterile
• But within a few hours first streptococci gets established followed by other species.
• Later the oral cavity becomes a mixture of bacteria, fungi, protozoan, and viruses.
• With the eruption of teeth, these organisms get colonized.
• Normal oral flora contains the following micro-organisms

Dental Plaque Formation:

• Initially, oral bacteria, pellicle, and dietary sucrose are required
• Pellicle contains salivary glycoprotein while bacteria produce adhesives like glucan from dietary sucrose
• The first pellicle through its glycoprotein gets adsorbed to the enamel surface and forms a membranous film

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• Next the glucan produced by the bacteria helps in binding the bacteria to the pellicle
• As this process continues more and more oral bacteria are adsorbed on the tooth surface
• As a result of it, layer called dental plaque is formed
• This later gets calcified to form calculus

Oral Microbiology Short Essays

Question 1. Dental plaque
Answer:

Dental plaque is a soft non mineralised deposit of bacteria present on the tooth surface and other hard surfaces of the oral cavity

Dental plaque Classification:

Dental plaque  Composition:

• Dental plaque consists of
  • Bacteria
  • Epithelial cells
  • Macrophages
  • Leucocytes

Dental plaque  Effects:

• Calculus formation
• Dental caries
• Periodontal diseases

Question 2. Dental caries
Answer:

• Dental caries is an infectious, microbiologic disease of the teeth that results in localized dissolution and destruction of the calcified tissues of the teeth.
• It leads to the weakening of tooth structure, cavity formation, and, eventual loss of tooth

Dental caries Etiology:

• Four factors interact to produce caries
• They are as follows:

Prevention of Dental Caries:

Dental caries can be prevented by

• Maintenance of good oral hygiene
  • By use of antimicrobials
  • Proper brushing
  • Flossing
  • By scaling at least once in 6 months
• Control of dietary carbohydrate intake
• Incorporating fluoride in drinking water
  • This increases resistance to dental caries.

Question 3. Periodontal infection
Answer:

• Periodontal infections include diseases of the gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone
• Initially, the organisms affect the gingiva causing gingivitis
• Later it progresses to deeper tissues leading to progressive tooth loss

Periodontal infection Etiology:

• Periodontal microflora, intrinsic factors, and extrinsic factors cause periodontal diseases

Periodontal Diseases:

 

Oral Microbiology Short Question And Answers

Question 1. Microbiology or bacteria causing dental caries
Answer:

Bacteria that cause dental caries are

Question 2. Normal flora of the respiratory tract
Answer:

Question 3. Name micro-organisms causing a periapical abscess
Answer:

Micro-organisms causing periapical abscesses are:

Question 4. Oral antiseptics
Answer:

• Oral antiseptics re used to keep the commensal bacterial flora of the oral cavity clean
• Some of them act as a deodorant

Oral antiseptics Example:

• Thymol
• Menthol
• Eugenol
• Benzoic acid
• Boric acid
• Calcium
• Magnesium peroxide.