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Monographs in Oral Science 2000The diagnostic evaluation of supra- and subgingival calculus has remained an important research problem for over 40 years. The measurement of calculus remains an... (Review)
Review
The diagnostic evaluation of supra- and subgingival calculus has remained an important research problem for over 40 years. The measurement of calculus remains an important objective in both research and office settings. As might be expected, the most important advances in diagnostic methods for calculus assessment have been derived from cross-fertilization from other technical disciplines including engineering, optics and computer science fields. With the new methods described herein, clinicians and researchers can look forward to important advances in our understanding of the impact of supragingival and subgingival calculus on oral health status and periodontal disease progression and in the development of treatment modalities for improved calculus control, benefiting patients and clinicians alike.
Topics: Dental Calculus; Disease Progression; Forecasting; Health Status; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Oral Health; Periodontal Diseases; Technology, Dental
PubMed: 10949839
DOI: 10.1159/000061641 -
Journal of Human Evolution Feb 2015Dental calculus (calcified tartar or plaque) is today widespread on modern human teeth around the world. A combination of soft starchy foods, changing acidity of the...
Dental calculus (calcified tartar or plaque) is today widespread on modern human teeth around the world. A combination of soft starchy foods, changing acidity of the oral environment, genetic pre-disposition, and the absence of dental hygiene all lead to the build-up of microorganisms and food debris on the tooth crown, which eventually calcifies through a complex process of mineralisation. Millions of oral microbes are trapped and preserved within this mineralised matrix, including pathogens associated with the oral cavity and airways, masticated food debris, and other types of extraneous particles that enter the mouth. As a result, archaeologists and anthropologists are increasingly using ancient human dental calculus to explore broad aspects of past human diet and health. Most recently, high-throughput DNA sequencing of ancient dental calculus has provided valuable insights into the evolution of the oral microbiome and shed new light on the impacts of some of the major biocultural transitions on human health throughout history and prehistory. Here, we provide a brief historical overview of archaeological dental calculus research, and discuss the current approaches to ancient DNA sampling and sequencing. Novel applications of ancient DNA from dental calculus are discussed, highlighting the considerable scope of this new research field for evolutionary biology and modern medicine.
Topics: Archaeology; DNA, Bacterial; Dental Calculus; Diet; Evolution, Molecular; History, Ancient; Humans; Microbiota; Oral Health
PubMed: 25476244
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2014.06.018 -
Journal of Veterinary Dentistry 2014A dental wax was evaluated after unilateral application in 20 client-owned, mixed and purebred small dogs using a clean, split-mouth study model. All dogs had clinical...
A dental wax was evaluated after unilateral application in 20 client-owned, mixed and purebred small dogs using a clean, split-mouth study model. All dogs had clinical signs of periodontal disease including plaque, calculus, and/or gingivitis. The wax was randomly applied to the teeth of one side of the mouth daily for 30-days while the contralateral side received no treatment. Owner parameters evaluated included compliance and a subjective assessment of ease of wax application. Gingivitis, plaque and calculus accumulation were scored at the end of the study period. Owners considered the wax easy to apply in all dogs. Compliance with no missed application days was achieved in 8 dogs. The number of missed application days had no effect on wax efficacy. There was no significant difference in gingivitis or plaque accumulation scores when comparing treated and untreated sides. Calculus accumulation scores were significantly less (22.1 %) for teeth receiving the dental wax.
Topics: Animals; Dental Calculus; Dental Plaque; Dental Plaque Index; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Gingivitis; Oral Hygiene; Waxes
PubMed: 24902410
DOI: 10.1177/089875641403100103 -
American Journal of Physical... Mar 2019Dental plaque is associated with a variety of systemic diseases and mortality risks in living populations. However, bioarchaeologists have not fully investigated the...
OBJECTIVES
Dental plaque is associated with a variety of systemic diseases and mortality risks in living populations. However, bioarchaeologists have not fully investigated the mortality risks associated with plaque (or its mineralized form, calculus) in the past. This study examines the relationship between survivorship and calculus in a medieval skeletal sample.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Our sample (n = 1,098) from four medieval London cemeteries, c. 1000-1540 CE, includes people who died under attritional (normal) and catastrophic (famine and plague) conditions. The associations between age and the presence of dental calculus on the permanent left first mandibular molar are assessed using binary logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
RESULTS
The regression results indicate a significant negative relationship between age and calculus presence for individuals of all ages who died under normal mortality conditions and for adults who died under both normal and catastrophic conditions. Survival analysis reveals decreased survivorship for people of all ages with calculus under normal mortality conditions. Similarly, during conditions of catastrophic mortality, adult males with calculus suffered reduced survivorship compared to males without it, though there was no difference in survivorship between adult females with and without calculus.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that, as in modern populations, calculus accumulation in the inhabitants of medieval London reflects a greater risk of premature death. The evaluation of calculus, a potential measure of underlying frailty, in the context of a demographic measure of general health suggests that it might provide insights into health in past populations.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cemeteries; Child; Child, Preschool; Dental Calculus; Female; History, Medieval; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Logistic Models; London; Male; Middle Aged; Paleodontology; Young Adult
PubMed: 30613949
DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23772 -
Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and... 2002Dental calculus is composed of inorganic components and organic matrix. Brushite, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, octacalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, and whitlockite... (Review)
Review
Dental calculus is composed of inorganic components and organic matrix. Brushite, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, octacalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, and whitlockite form the mineral part of dental calculus. Salivary proteins selectively adsorb on the tooth surface to form an acquired pellicle. It is followed by the adherence of various oral micro-organisms. Fimbriae, flagella, and some other surface proteins are essential for microbial adherence. Microbial co-aggregation and co-adhesion enable some micro-organisms, which are incapable of adhering, to adhere to the pellicle-coated tooth surface. Once organisms attach to the tooth surface, new genes could be expressed so that mature dental plaque can form and biofilm bacteria assume increased resistance to antimicrobial agents. Supersaturation of saliva and plaque fluid with respect to calcium phosphates is the driving force for plaque mineralization. Both salivary flow rate and plaque pH appear to influence the saturation degree of calcium phosphates. Acidic phospholipids and specific proteolipids present in cell membranes play a key role in microbial mineralization. The roles of crystal growth inhibitors, promoters, and organic acids in calculus formation are discussed. Application of biofilm culture systems in plaque mineralization is concisely reviewed. Anti-calculus agents used--centering on triclosan plus polyvinyl methyl ether/maleic acid copolymer, pyrophosphate plus polyvinyl methyl ether/maleic acid copolymer, and zinc ion-in commercial dentifrices are also discussed in this paper.
Topics: Bacterial Adhesion; Biofilms; Calcium Phosphates; Dental Calculus; Dental Pellicle; Dental Plaque; Dentifrices; Diphosphates; Humans; Maleates; Polyethylenes; Salivary Proteins and Peptides; Triclosan; Zinc Compounds
PubMed: 12393761
DOI: 10.1177/154411130201300506 -
Journal of Clinical Periodontology Apr 1986Although there is no doubt that gingivitis can develop in the absence of supragingival calculus, it is not clear to what extent the presence of mineralized deposit... (Review)
Review
Although there is no doubt that gingivitis can develop in the absence of supragingival calculus, it is not clear to what extent the presence of mineralized deposit enhances gingival inflammation. Partial inhibition of plaque mineralization can be accomplished by chemical agents, but there has been no demonstration in humans of a reduction in gingivitis. It remains to be established what level of inhibition (if any) is required to have more than a cosmetic effect. Since the accepted scenario is that apical growth of supragingival plaque precedes the formation of subgingival calculus, there is no longer an issue of whether subgingival calculus is the cause or the result of periodontal disease. Subgingival mineralization results from the interaction of subgingival plaque with the influx of mineral salts that is part of the serum transudate and inflammatory exudate. This chronology, however, should not be the basis for relegating calculus to the ash heap. Morphologic and analytical studies point to the porosity of calculus and retention of bacterial antigens and the presence of readily available toxic stimulators of bone resorption. When coupled with the increased build up of plaque on the surface of the calculus, the combination has the potential for extending (beyond that of plaque alone) the radius of destruction and the rate of displacement of the adjacent junctional epithelium. The centrality of thorough scaling and root planing in the successful maintenance of periodontal health supports the view that subgingival calculus contributes significantly to the chronicity and progression of the disease, even if it can no longer be considered as responsible for initiation.
Topics: Bacteria; Dental Calculus; Dental Polishing; Dental Prophylaxis; Dental Scaling; Gingiva; Gingivitis; Humans; Microscopy, Electron; Oral Hygiene; Periodontal Diseases; Permeability; Time Factors; Tooth Root
PubMed: 3519689
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1986.tb02219.x -
Scientific Reports Apr 2021Ancient DNA analysis of human oral microbial communities within calcified dental plaque (calculus) has revealed key insights into human health, paleodemography, and...
Ancient DNA analysis of human oral microbial communities within calcified dental plaque (calculus) has revealed key insights into human health, paleodemography, and cultural behaviors. However, contamination imposes a major concern for paleomicrobiological samples due to their low endogenous DNA content and exposure to environmental sources, calling into question some published results. Decontamination protocols (e.g. an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) pre-digestion or ultraviolet radiation (UV) and 5% sodium hypochlorite immersion treatments) aim to minimize the exogenous content of the outer surface of ancient calculus samples prior to DNA extraction. While these protocols are widely used, no one has systematically compared them in ancient dental calculus. Here, we compare untreated dental calculus samples to samples from the same site treated with four previously published decontamination protocols: a UV only treatment; a 5% sodium hypochlorite immersion treatment; a pre-digestion in EDTA treatment; and a combined UV irradiation and 5% sodium hypochlorite immersion treatment. We examine their efficacy in ancient oral microbiota recovery by applying 16S rRNA gene amplicon and shotgun sequencing, identifying ancient oral microbiota, as well as soil and skin contaminant species. Overall, the EDTA pre-digestion and a combined UV irradiation and 5% sodium hypochlorite immersion treatment were both effective at reducing the proportion of environmental taxa and increasing oral taxa in comparison to untreated samples. This research highlights the importance of using decontamination procedures during ancient DNA analysis of dental calculus to reduce contaminant DNA.
Topics: Biodiversity; DNA, Ancient; Decontamination; Dental Calculus; Environment; Humans; Metagenomics; Mouth; Phylogeny; Principal Component Analysis; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Species Specificity
PubMed: 33811235
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86100-w -
Journal of Dentistry Feb 2000To critically analyse the formation, composition, ethnic variations and pathogenic potential of subgingival calculus in comparison with supragingival calculus. (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
OBJECTIVE
To critically analyse the formation, composition, ethnic variations and pathogenic potential of subgingival calculus in comparison with supragingival calculus.
DATA SOURCES
Using CD-ROM and index medicus, scientific papers relating to subgingival calculus or subgingival and supragingival calculus written in the English language since 1960 were considered, with the emphasis on more recent articles.
STUDY SELECTION
Studies were selected for their relevance and contemporary nature re:composition and formation of dental calculus and comparisons of ethnic groups with regard to dental calculus, especially subgingival calculus. Some similar studies were not included.
DATA EXTRACTION
Abstracts of studies were kept brief unless particularly important to the review. Population, methodology, statistics and accurate conclusions were used as important guides to the quality and validity of studies.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Similarities and differences between supragingival and subgingival calculus in composition and formation were shown. Different morphological types of subgingival calculus were demonstrated. There was evidence for an association between calculus formation and ethnicity with regard to supragingival and subgingival calculus, and an association between subgingival calculus composition and ethnicity was indicated.
CONCLUSIONS
An association between ethnicity and subgingival calculus formation and composition was found. Further research into the reasons for these ethnic differences in dental calculus and the role of the mineral constituents especially of subgingival calculus would be valuable.
Topics: Dental Calculus; Gingival Diseases; Humans; Racial Groups
PubMed: 10666966
DOI: 10.1016/s0300-5712(99)00056-1 -
Brazilian Oral Research Dec 2016Fetuin-A is a potent inhibitor of calcium-phosphate precipitation and of the calcification process, therefore it can also be related with dental calculus. Thus, we aimed...
Fetuin-A is a potent inhibitor of calcium-phosphate precipitation and of the calcification process, therefore it can also be related with dental calculus. Thus, we aimed to investigate a possible relationship between fetuin-A gene polymorphism and the presence of dental calculus. A possible relationship between serum, saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of fetuin-A was also investigated. Fetuin-A c.742C > T and c.766C > G polymorphisms were investigated in 103 patients with or without dental calculus. Additionally, serum, saliva and GCF fetuin-A levels of patients were compared according to dental calculus presence. A significant difference was not observed in the distribution of the fetuin-A c.742C > T and c.766C > G polymorphisms between patients with or without dental calculus. Saliva and GCF fetuin-A concentrations of patients with dental calculus were statistically higher than those without dental calculus (P=0.001, P=0.036 respectively). According to our results, fetuin-A c.742C > T and c.766C > G polymorphisms were not associated with presence of dental calculus. However, higher GCF and saliva fetuin-A levels were detected in patients with dental calculus than in patients without dental calculus, which may result from an adaptive mechanism to inhibit mineral precipitation and eventually calculus formation.
Topics: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Case-Control Studies; Dental Calculus; Dental Plaque; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Genetic Association Studies; Genotype; Gingival Crevicular Fluid; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Genetic; Reference Values; Saliva; Statistics, Nonparametric; Young Adult; alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein
PubMed: 28001239
DOI: 10.1590/1807-3107BOR-2016.vol30.0129 -
The Veterinary Record Oct 1984
Topics: Animals; Dental Calculus; Female; New Zealand; Periodontal Diseases; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; United Kingdom
PubMed: 6506421
DOI: 10.1136/vr.115.16.411