Dental plaque - Did you know?
Dental plaque is a yellowish-white deposit or biofilm that comprises predominantly of bacterial communities in a matrix of exfoliated epithelial cells and salivary proteins. It attaches tenaciously to the surfaces of teeth as well as any prostheses or appliances in the oral cavity.
🤔But, how does this work?
Salivary proteins help form a lubricating layer called the salivary pellicle on all surfaces in the oral cavity. While this helps in lubrication of the mucosal surfaces it also provides for binding sites that help in adherence of bacteria.
🤨Why then, does plaque accumulate only on surfaces like the crowns of teeth or prostheses and appliances in the oral cavity? Why not on the surfaces of the oral mucosa?
Luckily, epithelial cells of the mucosal surfaces are continuously shed and this prevents an excessive accumulation or build-up of bacterial deposits.
The teeth however provide for non-shedding surfaces and promote accumulation of bacterial communities if oral hygiene is not well maintained.
🎥 Video!
🔎You could dig deeper into the topic
If ever, you want to go deep on what dental plaque is, its sites of accumulation, its structure and what an unchecked accumulation of plaque could do to the oral tissues, we have some great notes and videos you could catch up with, all of which are available on our Revision Ninja - Oral Pathology and Medicine Course bundle!
Dental Plaque: Structure and Formation (Video available on YouTube for free, Video & Notes available on our website)
Gingivitis: Stages of Gingival Inflammation (Video available on YouTube for free, Video & Notes available on our website)
Dental plaque and Caries - Plaque formation and it's role in causing dental caries (Video & Notes available on our website)
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💡Note
Apart from Notes, you could also get access to numerous MCQs and Videos with English captions/subtitles on various topics in Oral Pathology and Medicine.
📚Other study resources on HackDentistry!
And hey, by the way, please do give HackDentistry a shout-out to your friends and colleagues, would you? Would really appreciate it! Cheers and happy reading :)
Best
Dr.Sanketh from Team HackDentistry