Dental Hygiene and Infection Control Comprehensive Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering infection control, PPE protocols, microbiology, periodontal anatomy, dental nomenclature, preventive dentistry levels, the dental hygiene process of care, and study strategies.

Chain of Infection

The six-step cycle required for an infectious disease to spread: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.

Infectious Agent

The specific germ (microorganism) that causes an infection or disease.

Reservoir

The place in the chain of infection where a germ lives or grows, such as a person or the environment.

Portal of Exit

The route by which a germ leaves its reservoir, such as through blood or saliva.

Means of Transmission

The way a germ travels from one place or person to another.

Portal of Entry

The route by which a germ enters another person's body, such as through the eyes, nose, mouth, or broken skin.

Susceptible Host

A person who lacks immunity or resistance and can become infected by a pathogen.

Autoclave

A device used for sterilizing dental instruments using steam under pressure.

Sterilization

A validated process that destroys all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores.

Disinfection

A process that kills many disease-causing microorganisms on inanimate objects, but may not kill bacterial spores.

Biofilm (Dental Unit Waterline)

A community layer of microorganisms attached to the inside surface of a dental unit waterline.

Cross-Contamination

The transfer and spread of germs from one person or object to another.

Hepatitis A

A viral infection that commonly spreads via the fecal-oral route, often through contaminated food, water, or hands.

Herpes Simplex Type 1 (HSV-1)

A virus commonly known for causing oral cold sores, though it can affect other body areas.

Varicella-Zoster Virus

The virus responsible for chickenpox that can later reactivate to cause shingles.

Tuberculosis (TB)

A bacterial disease that spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person breathes, speaks, coughs, or sneezes.

Active Tuberculosis Protocol in Dentistry

Postponing routine dental treatment until the patient is no longer infectious, while taking appropriate airborne precautions if urgent care is required.

Nitrile Gloves

A synthetic glove option used in dental settings as an alternative for individuals with latex allergies.

Periodontium

The collective group of tissues that support and surround the teeth, consisting of the gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone.

Gingiva

The mucosal gum tissue that surrounds the necks of the teeth and covers the alveolar bone.

Gingival Margin

The coronal edge of the gum surrounding the tooth.

Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF)

A fluid present in the gingival sulcus that helps flush the sulcus and carries immune cells and substances; it is present in healthy tissues and alters in quantity and composition with inflammation.

Junctional Epithelium

The specialized tissue that forms the attachment seal between the gingiva and the tooth surface.

Periodontal Ligament (PDL)

Fibers and connective tissue that suspend and attach the tooth root to the surrounding alveolar bone.

Alveolar Crest Fibers

Principal periodontal ligament collagen fibers that extend from the cementum near the neck of the tooth to the alveolar crest.

Cementum

A specialized calcified tissue covering the tooth root that anchors the collagen fibers of the periodontal ligament.

Alveolar Bone

The specialized ridge of jawbone that contains the sockets (alveoli) holding the teeth.

Gingivitis

Inflammation of the gingiva presenting with redness, swelling, and bleeding, without the loss of periodontal attachment.

Periodontitis

An inflammatory disease damaging the supportive periodontium, characterized by loss of periodontal connective tissue attachment and potential alveolar bone loss.

Non-Specific Plaque Hypothesis

The concept stating that the overall bacterial mass and quantity of plaque accumulation drive periodontal disease progression, rather than a single specific pathogen.

Periodontal Pathogens

Key bacteria associated with periodontal disease, specifically Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Prevotella intermedia.

Primary Dentition

The first set of teeth in human development, consisting of 20 deciduous teeth in a child.

Permanent Dentition

The adult set of teeth, totaling 32 teeth including the 12 permanent molars when wisdom teeth are present.

Buccal

The directional tooth surface that faces toward the inner cheek, particularly on posterior teeth.

Lingual

The directional tooth surface facing inward toward the tongue.

Mesial

The tooth surface oriented toward the anterior midline of the dental arch.

Distal

The tooth surface facing away from the anterior midline of the dental arch.

Occlusal Surface

The masticatory or chewing surface of premolars and molars (posterior teeth).

Incisal Edge

The functional incising or cutting edge of anterior teeth (incisors and canines).

Interdental Papilla

The triangular projection of gingival tissue that occupies the interproximal space between two adjacent teeth.

Interproximal

The anatomical space or relationship between adjacent teeth in the same dental arch.

Bicuspid

Another standard clinical name for a premolar tooth.

Frenum

A small fold of mucous membrane connecting the lip or cheek to the alveolar mucosa or gingiva.

Uvula

The small fleshy tissue projection that hangs downward from the posterior margin of the soft palate.

Soft Palate

The muscular, non-bony posterior third of the roof of the mouth.

White Spot Lesion

A chalky, demineralized enamel area representing localized mineral loss and an early clinical sign of dental caries.

Primary Prevention

Interventions implemented before disease occurs to prevent its onset, such as community water fluoridation, topical fluoride application, and oral health education.

Secondary Prevention

Measures aimed at detecting a disease in its early stages or applying prompt treatment to halt disease progression.

Tertiary Prevention

Clinical interventions that manage established, complex disease to limit disability and prevent further complications.

Dental Hygiene Process of Care

A systematic, five-step clinical model comprising assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Assessment (Care Process)

The initial phase of the dental hygiene process of care where systematic collection of patient diagnostic data occurs.

Dental Hygiene Diagnosis

The identification of an individual patient's oral health behaviors, deficits, or problems within the scope of dental hygiene practice.

Planning (Care Process)

The phase in which clinical goals, treatment strategies, and interventions are selected to address identified patient needs.

Implementation (Care Process)

The delivery and execution of planned therapeutic and educational interventions, such as flossing instruction.

Evaluation (Care Process)

The phase where clinical outcomes are measured to determine whether patient goals and oral health improvements (such as reduced gingival inflammation) have been achieved.

Wellness-Illness Continuum

A conceptual dynamic scale representing an individual's state of health moving between optimal wellness and severe illness.

Active Recall

A learning strategy that involves stimulating memory retrieval without viewing the reference notes or answers.

Spaced Repetition

An evidence-based learning technique where study material is reviewed at systematic, increasing time intervals to promote long-term memory consolidation.

Muscle Reading

An active reading technique that involves critically engaging, annotating, and interacting with written text rather than passively reading words.

Mind Mapping

A non-linear diagramming technique that positions a central concept in the middle and connects associated topics around it.

ABC Priority System

A time-management framework categorizing tasks into high priority (A), medium priority (B), and low priority (C).