Today was one of my biannual dentist visits. I suppose i was in a curious mood because i got to chatting with Nancy, my dental hygienist, about the wonders of the mouth.
First i asked if plaque was a living thing. They warn you about plaque and tarter all the time and i wasn't sure how they related. Apparently plaque is alive. It's made up of sticky bacteria. After you eat, they release acids which can harm teeth. These bacteria can be kept in check with regular brushing. It was interesting to know that these bacteria are part of the "natural flora of the mouth" (at least that's what Nancy called it). At any given point there are good and bad bacteria in the mouth. Excessive use of products like Listerine can kill all the bacteria (good and bad). If that happens, a white fungus will actually grow in the mouth.
Tarter is different. It is the build up of calcium salts on the teeth. It's related to plaque because the salts are more likely to form on the sticky plaque. Nancy says she usually see tarter on the back of the front, lower teeth. The reason for that is the calcium salts come from the saliva, and the saliva tends to pool beneath the tongue throughout the day. The tarter is removed by scraping it off with a scaler. I found it interesting to learn that they must regular sharpen these tools. They come in different shapes to closely follow the contour of the different types of teeth.
Next we started talking about the gums. Today, they took one of those fancy x-rays that goes all the way around the mouth. She pointed out the mandible and told me that the teeth are actually connected to the bone via tiny ligaments. If these ligaments become damaged, they do not repair themselves. In the same way once brain cells die, they are never replaced. This is why periodontal diseases needs to be avoided because you can never to backwards. Nancy then showed me the roots of my teeth. I asked what happens in a root canal. She said that they go into the plup of the tooth and pull out the insides. They seal off the inside so no more blood can get it. This effectively leaves the once living tooth, dead. Because its already a perfect fit in the mouth, they leave it in. Dead teeth are more brittle so root canals are often followed up with crowns, which are metal coverings over a tooth to protect it.
Luckily i don't have to worry about any of the above. My checkup went just fine. Next time you're at the dentist, ask your hygienist about teeth and tell me what he says.
Posted by Matthew at December 2, 2004 11:24 PM