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Periodontology 2000 Feb 2018Dental calculus represents the first fossilized record of bacterial communities as a testimony of evolutionary biology. The development of dental calculus is a dynamic... (Review)
Review
Dental calculus represents the first fossilized record of bacterial communities as a testimony of evolutionary biology. The development of dental calculus is a dynamic process that starts with a nonmineralized biofilm which eventually calcifies. Nonmineralized dental biofilm entraps particles from the oral cavity, including large amounts of oral bacteria, human proteins, viruses and food remnants, and preserves their DNA. The process of mineralization involves metabolic activities of the bacterial colonies and strengthens the attachment of nonmineralized biofilms to the tooth surface. From a clinical point of view, dental calculus always harbors a living, nonmineralized biofilm, jeopardizing the integrity of the dento-gingival or implanto-mucosal unit. This narrative review presents a brief historical overview of dental calculus formation and its clinical relevance in modern periodontal practice.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Biofilms; Biological Evolution; Calcification, Physiologic; Dental Calculus; Disease Progression; Gingiva; Humans; Microbiota; Mouth; Viruses
PubMed: 29194797
DOI: 10.1111/prd.12151 -
European Journal of Oral Sciences Oct 1997Dental calculus, both supra- and subgingival occurs in the majority of adults worldwide. Dental calculus is calcified dental plaque, composed primarily of calcium... (Review)
Review
Dental calculus, both supra- and subgingival occurs in the majority of adults worldwide. Dental calculus is calcified dental plaque, composed primarily of calcium phosphate mineral salts deposited between and within remnants of formerly viable microorganisms. A viable dental plaque covers mineralized calculus deposits. Levels of calculus and location of formation are population specific and are affected by oral hygiene habits, access to professional care, diet, age, ethnic origin, time since last dental cleaning, systemic disease and the use of prescription medications. In populations that practice regular oral hygiene and with access to regular professional care, supragingival dental calculus formation is restricted to tooth surfaces adjacent to the salivary ducts. Levels of supragingival calculus in these populations is minor and the calculus has little if any impact on oral-health. Subgingival calculus formation in these populations occurs coincident with periodontal disease (although the calculus itself appears to have little impact on attachment loss), the latter being correlated with dental plaque. In populations that do not practice regular hygiene and that do not have access to professional care, supragingival calculus occurs throughout the dentition and the extent of calculus formation can be extreme. In these populations, supragingival calculus is associated with the promotion of gingival recession. Subgingival calculus, in "low hygiene" populations, is extensive and is directly correlated with enhanced periodontal attachment loss. Despite extensive research, a complete understanding of the etiologic significance of subgingival calculus to periodontal disease remains elusive, due to inability to clearly differentiate effects of calculus versus "plaque on calculus". As a result, we are not entirely sure whether subgingival calculus is the cause or result of periodontal inflammation. Research suggests that subgingival calculus, at a minimum, may expand the radius of plaque induced periodontal injury. Removal of subgingival plaque and calculus remains the cornerstone of periodontal therapy. Calculus formation is the result of petrification of dental plaque biofilm, with mineral ions provided by bathing saliva or crevicular fluids. Supragingival calculus formation can be controlled by chemical mineralization inhibitors, applied in toothpastes or mouthrinses. These agents act to delay plaque calcification, keeping deposits in an amorphous non-hardened state to facilitate removal with regular hygiene. Clinical efficacy for these agents is typically assessed as the reduction in tartar area coverage on the teeth between dental cleaning. Research shows that topically applied mineralization inhibitors can also influence adhesion and hardness of calculus deposits on the tooth surface, facilitating removal. Future research in calculus may include the development of improved supragingival tartar control formulations, the development of treatments for the prevention of subgingival calculus formation, the development of improved methods for root detoxification and debridement and the development and application of sensitive diagnostic methods to assess subgingival debridement efficacy.
Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Biofilms; Calcium Phosphates; Dental Calculus; Dental Care; Dental Plaque; Dental Prophylaxis; Diet; Disease; Ethnicity; Gingiva; Gingival Crevicular Fluid; Gingival Recession; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene; Periodontal Attachment Loss; Periodontitis; Polypharmacy; Saliva; Subgingival Curettage
PubMed: 9395117
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0722.1997.tb00238.x -
Periodontology 2000 Jun 1995
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Journal of the California Dental... Jul 2016Characterizing the evolution of the oral microbiome is a challenging, but increasingly feasible, task. Recently, dental calculus has been shown to preserve ancient... (Review)
Review
Characterizing the evolution of the oral microbiome is a challenging, but increasingly feasible, task. Recently, dental calculus has been shown to preserve ancient biomolecules from the oral microbiota, host tissues and diet for tens of thousands of years. As such, it provides a unique window into the ancestral oral microbiome. This article reviews recent advancements in ancient dental calculus research and emerging insights into the evolution and ecology of the human oral microbiome.
Topics: Dental Calculus; Dental Caries; Fossils; History, Ancient; History, Medieval; Humans; Microbiota; Mouth; Paleodontology; Periodontal Diseases
PubMed: 27514153
DOI: No ID Found -
Evolutionary Anthropology Sep 2018Dental calculus is now widely used to recover information on items ingested in the past. It is particularly valuable in the earlier Paleolithic, where recovered data may... (Review)
Review
Dental calculus is now widely used to recover information on items ingested in the past. It is particularly valuable in the earlier Paleolithic, where recovered data may represent the only evidence for plant use. Several recovery methods are used and each one produces different results. Biomolecular markers and genetic material recovered from dental calculus is providing new data on identifiable dietary and medicinal items and human microbial communities. The recovery of microfossils, in particular, starch granules, has triggered a new awareness of the role of plants in the diet throughout the Paleolithic. However, the minute amount of material recovered has little relationship with food eaten during a person's life, while salivary amylase breaks down cooked starch. Therefore, broader dietary interpretations and detection of cooked food are problematic. The study of ancient dental calculus holds great potential to recover information about past lives, within realistic parameters.
Topics: Animals; Cooking; Dental Calculus; Diet; Environment; Fossils; History, Ancient; Hominidae; Neanderthals; Starch; Vegetables
PubMed: 30326183
DOI: 10.1002/evan.21718 -
Journal of Biophotonics Jun 2022During the treatment for periodontitis, the removal of dental calculus is essential. Previously, we have proposed the DAM algorithm for intuitive identification of the...
During the treatment for periodontitis, the removal of dental calculus is essential. Previously, we have proposed the DAM algorithm for intuitive identification of the site of lesion, enabling the non-contact assessment during the operation. Nonetheless, the delineation of dental calculus was still imperfect. To this end, here we utilized the power of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography and evaluated the contrast called degree of polarization uniformity for dental calculus visualization. The result showed that the selected index demonstrated excellent contrast of dental calculus from other normal dental hard tissues. The proposed contrast is promising for accurate dental calculus delineation.
Topics: Algorithms; Dental Calculus; Humans; Tomography, Optical Coherence
PubMed: 35249264
DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202200011 -
Molecular Oral Microbiology Jun 2016Dental calculus, a material observed in the majority of adults worldwide, emerged as a source for correlating paleomicrobiology with human health and diet. This mini... (Review)
Review
Dental calculus, a material observed in the majority of adults worldwide, emerged as a source for correlating paleomicrobiology with human health and diet. This mini review of 48 articles on the paleomicrobiology of dental calculus over 7550 years discloses a secular core microbiota comprising nine bacterial phyla - Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, TM7, Synergistetes, Chloroflexi, Fusobacteria, Spirochetes - and one archaeal phylum Euryarchaeota; and some accessory microbiota that appear and disappear according to time frame. The diet residues and oral microbes, including bacteria, archaea, viruses and fungi, consisting of harmless organisms and pathogens associated with local and systemic infections have been found trapped in ancient dental calculus by morphological approaches, immunolabeling techniques, isotope analyses, fluorescent in situ hybridization, DNA-based approaches, and protein-based approaches. These observations led to correlation of paleomicrobiology, particularly Streptococcus mutans and archaea, with past human health and diet.
Topics: Adult; Archaea; Bacteria; Bacteroidetes; Dental Calculus; Diet; Fusobacterium; History, Ancient; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Isotope Labeling; Microbiota; Paleodontology; Phylogeny; Proteobacteria; Streptococcus mutans
PubMed: 26194817
DOI: 10.1111/omi.12118 -
Journal of Periodontology Oct 2021Extensive reviews on the role of scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of periodontitis have been previously published. This commentary will address the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Extensive reviews on the role of scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of periodontitis have been previously published. This commentary will address the importance of subgingival calculus in the progression and treatment of periodontitis and addresses factors that make the execution of a "definitive" SRP a critical part of therapy.
METHODS
A search for articles, using keywords relevant to the subject , (e.g., periodontitis, dental scaling, root planing, dental calculus, biofilm, inflammation) was conducted using PubMed, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Reviews and the ADA Center for Evidence Based Dentistry data bases. Additionally, references cited in relevant articles were also considered.
RESULTS
Surfaces of subgingival calculus are covered with a biofilm of metabolically active bacteria. Periodontal inflammation is clearly related to the presence of calculus and biofilm. The primary goal of SRP is removal of subgingival calculus and biofilm deposits to create a biologically compatible root surface and reduce the inflammatory burden. Current evidence suggests that inflammation associated with periodontal infections affects both the immediate oral environment and the patient's systemic health.
CONCLUSION
SRP is still critical to the treatment of periodontitis. SRP involving deep probing depths (≥ 5 mm) and root surfaces with anatomical and surface irregularities, regardless of the type of instrumentation, requires time, exceptional skill and perseverance, and patient compliance with periodontal maintenance. Sites with persistent nonresponding probing depths and signs of inflammation following a definitive SRP, should be considered for surgical intervention.
Topics: Biofilms; Dental Calculus; Dental Scaling; Humans; Periodontitis; Root Planing
PubMed: 33660307
DOI: 10.1002/JPER.20-0839 -
American Journal of Biological... Apr 2024Ancient human dental calculus is a unique, nonrenewable biological resource encapsulating key information about the diets, lifestyles, and health conditions of past... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Ancient human dental calculus is a unique, nonrenewable biological resource encapsulating key information about the diets, lifestyles, and health conditions of past individuals and populations. With compounding calls its destructive analysis, it is imperative to refine the ways in which the scientific community documents, samples, and analyzes dental calculus so as to maximize its utility to the public and scientific community.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Our research team conducted an IRB-approved survey of dental calculus researchers with diverse academic backgrounds, research foci, and analytical specializations.
RESULTS
This survey reveals variation in how metadata is collected and utilized across different subdisciplines and highlights how these differences have profound implications for dental calculus research. Moreover, the survey suggests the need for more communication between those who excavate, curate, and analyze biomolecular data from dental calculus.
DISCUSSION
Challenges in cross-disciplinary communication limit researchers' ability to effectively utilize samples in rigorous and reproducible ways. Specifically, the lack of standardized skeletal and dental metadata recording and contamination avoidance procedures hinder downstream anthropological applications, as well as the pursuit of broader paleodemographic and paleoepidemiological inquiries that rely on more complete information about the individuals sampled. To provide a path forward toward more ethical and standardized dental calculus sampling and documentation approaches, we review the current methods by which skeletal and dental metadata are recorded. We also describe trends in sampling and contamination-control approaches. Finally, we use that information to suggest new guidelines for ancient dental calculus documentation and sampling strategies that will improve research practices in the future.
Topics: Humans; Dental Calculus; Metadata; Anthropology; Communication; Documentation
PubMed: 37994571
DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24871 -
Journal of Comparative Pathology May 2021Histopathological changes in tooth structures in dogs with calculus have not been described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of various...
Histopathological changes in tooth structures in dogs with calculus have not been described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of various histopathological changes in the dentine of teeth that had been surgically extracted from dogs with calculus. Data including breed, sex, age, reason for tooth extraction and dental history were obtained for each animal. A total of 158 teeth (45 incisors, 31 canines, 35 premolars and 47 molars) with calculus were extracted from 74 dogs of various ages and breeds. The teeth were decalcified, processed in paraffin wax and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histopathological analysis. Of the 158 analysed teeth, 71 had dentinal changes, including 45 with external resorption cavities, 11 with osteodentine, six with internal resorption cavities, four with tertiary dentine, four with dentinal degeneration or fragmentation, and one with predentine degeneration or fragmentation. Canine teeth were the least commonly affected. Areas of dentinal degeneration or fragmentation unrelated to resorption cavities were only seen in the incisor and molar teeth. Dentinal changes and their frequencies were similar among the incisor, premolar and molar teeth. The presence or extension of dental calculus was not associated with the type or frequency of dentinal changes.
Topics: Animals; Dental Calculus; Dentin; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Tooth
PubMed: 34119235
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2021.03.004