Dentition and Health

Practice flashcards covering the relationship between dental health, chewing mechanics, digestion, and systemic health conditions based on the lecture notes.

Oral cavity

The first structure of the digestive tract, responsible for the fragmentation and ingestion of food.

Incisors

Teeth designed for incising, cutting, and biting.

Canines (Cuspids)

The sharpest teeth, specifically used for ripping and tearing.

Premolars (Bicuspids)

Teeth used for chewing, grinding, and tearing.

Molars

Teeth with the largest surface area on the occlusal surface, used primarily for grinding.

Primary chewing region

The area from the premolar to the first molar where $90\%$ of chewing efficiency occurs.

Bolus

The small mass of food produced by teeth to facilitate easier swallowing and digestion.

Triturated

The state of food when it is completely ground; maximum occlusal contact occurs at this stage of the chewing cycle.

Chewing cycle duration

The typical time for one cycle, which varies between $0.6$ and $1$ second.

Vertical chewing component

The vertical movement during a chewing cycle, measuring $16$-$20\,mm$.

Horizontal chewing component

The horizontal movement during a chewing cycle, measuring $3$-$5\,mm$.

Contact gliding

The movement seen in opening and closing during chewing, the amount of which is determined by the toughness of the food.

Incomplete chewing

A condition resulting in incomplete digestion and unextracted nutrients, where undigested food becomes fodder for bacterial growth.

Salivary amylase

Enzyme in the mouth responsible for the intraoral digestion of carbohydrates.

Lipase

Enzyme that starts the intraoral digestion of fat.

Hydrochloric acid

A substance increased in the stomach via neural signals from taste receptors to help break down protein.

Recommended chewing rate

The ideal practice of chewing each morsel of food $15$-$30$ times.

Edentulism efficiency

The state of missing teeth where complete dentures provide only $1/4$ to $1/5$ of the chewing efficiency of natural teeth.

Hyperglycemia effect

The condition where high blood sugar diminishes the capacity of white blood cells to eliminate bacteria, predisposing individuals to periodontitis.

C-reactive protein

A protein linked to inflammation from periodontal disease that contributes to immune response and arterial constriction.

Aspiration of anaerobic pathogens

The mechanism of action by which periodontal disease can lead to respiratory conditions like pneumonia and COPD.

Pneumonia reduction rate

The percentage (up to $40\%$) by which pneumonia incidence can be reduced in care facilities through oral decontamination efforts like chlorohexidine gels.