Dental cavities

The presence of fluorine as a soluble fluoride in drinking water to the extent of 2 ppm may cause mottled enamel in teeth, when used by children acquiring permanent teeth in smaller amounts, however, fluorides are added to water supplies to prevent dental cavities. 

Sugar can, the report concluded, be a cause of dental cavities rinsing the mouth with water after consuming a sugar product reduces this risk considerably. Dental cavities appear to be the only disease for which sucrose could be a cause. 

The addition of fluoride ions to domestic water supplies (in the form of NaF) is now widespread and has resulted in a dramatic decrease in dental cavities. Fluoridated toothpastes, containing either tin(II) fluoride or sodium monofluorophos-phate (MFP, Na2FP03), are also recommended to strengthen tooth enamel. 

Fluoride Stimulates new bone formation prevents formation of dental cavities Men 4 mg/d Women 3 mg/d... 

Tricyclics may also pose a threat to vision by causing dry eyes, blurred vision, and even vision loss when narrow-angle glaucoma is present. Also, tricyclics may result in dry mouth that can lead to dental cavities, reduced urine output, and constipation. Although not fully understood, weight gain is also an effect. Whether a result of the drug or of the illness, sexual drive is decreased. 

According to the American Dental Society, there is many different reasons that some people are more prone to dental cavities than other people. 

An alloy that is made of a metal dissolved in mercury is called an amalgam. A traditional dental amalgam, used to fill cavities in teeth, contains 50% mercury. Due to concern over the use of mercury, which is toxic, dentists now use other materials, such as ceramic materials, to fill dental cavities. 

Federal regulations require that fluoride not exceed a concentration of 4.0 mg L"1 in drinking water. Chronic exposure to levels above 4.0 mg L-1 may result in some cases of crippling skeletal fluorosis, a serious bone disorder. Fluoride in children s drinking water at levels of approximately 1 mg L-1 reduces the number of dental cavities. Federal law also requires that notification take place when monitoring indicates that the fluoride exceeds 2.0 mg L 1. 

Substances used in dental surgery for filling dental cavities are medical devices. 

There are dental wicks that can contain up to 375 mg/g of phenol. They are introduced into the dental cavity being treated and are reapplied every 10 minutes. The explanatory notice simply recommends not touching the mucous membranes. Nevertheless, it is possible for the patient to accidentally ingest a total of 1 g, although the time lapse allows any phenol that might have been ingested to be eliminated without toxicity. The products with the highest concentrations of phenol benefit from its antiseptic and local anesthetic properties. 

The most common dental polymers, used for prosthetic purposes and restorative dentistry (filling material), are polymethacrylates.1514 The polymerization process performed directly in the dental cavity has to meet strict demands the reaction must be fast at a temperature below 50 °C and it must avoid the formation of a toxic product. These requirements can be fulfilled by UV curing. For example, a mixture of camphorquinone (586), a chromophore (photoinitiator) with an absorption maximum at 468 nm and an amine 587 as a co-initiator (see also Scheme 6.100), initiates a radical polymerization reaction of the acrylate monomer 588 upon photolysis using a conventional blue lamp or laser (Scheme 6.285). 

Medical Complications Amenorrhea Lanugo High mortality Dental cavities Electrolyte imbalances Electrolyte imbalances Dental cavities Callous on hands/fingers Enlarged parotid and salivary glands Cardiac abnormalities... 

As we saw in A Human Perspective Tooth Decay and Simple Sugars (Chapter 17), the lactate produced by oral bacteria is responsible for the gradual removal of calcium from tooth enamel and the resulting dental cavities. 

In France, potassium fluoride is sometimes added to table salt to help prevent dental cavities. 

At low-level concentrations, fluoride can reduce the risk of dental cavities. Exposure to somewhat higher amounts of fluoride can cause dental fluorosis, which, in its mildest form, can result in the discoloration of teeth. Severe dental fluorosis produces pitting and alteration of tooth enamel. Higher intake of fluoride, taken over a long period of time, can result in changes to bone and in a condition known as skeletal fluorosis. The effects of skeletal fluorosis include joint pain, restriction of mobility, and a possible increase in the risk of some bone fractures. 

Fluorine and hydrogen fluoride are used to make certain chemical compounds. Hydrofluoric acid is used for etching glass. Fluorides are used in making steel, chemicals, ceramics, lubricants, dyes, plastics and pesticides (for ants and roaches). Fluorides are often added to drinking water supplies and to a variety of dental products, including toothpaste and mouth rinses, to prevent dental cavities. 

Amalgams are alloys of mercury with other metals used extensively as chemical reagents and catalysts. The proportion of mercury dictates whether the amalgam is solid or liquid. They include sodium amalgam (Na Rgy), used to manufacture sodium hydroxide, and dental amalgams (alloys of mercury with some combination of silver, copper, tin, gold, or silver) used to fill dental cavities. 

Thanks to the presence of silver nanoparticies, the final product also has anti-inflammatory activity and protects the skin against undesirable microorganism action. Silver nanoparticies can penetrate deep into the skin and remove it from any bacterial contamination, which inhibits the formation of acne (Yaoguang et al., 2011). Nanosilver has also been used in the production of toothpastes and oral care gels. Silver at a concentration of 0.004% (w/w) is an effective ingredient which prevents the growth of bacteria that cause unpleasant smells and dental cavities. The authors stipulate that the best biocidal activity is accomplished, if the average nanoparticle size is less than 15 nm (Holladay, 2013). 

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