Poor Dentition
Look For
- The number and overall health of the teeth, and the presence of any carious or erosive lesions.
Causes of Poor Dentition
- Poor oral hygiene
- High-sugar diet
- Malnutrition
- Lack of fluoride
- Diabetes
- Alcoholism
- Smoking
Significance
- Poor dentition is associated with worse overall physical and mental wellbeing. Dental infection can spread systemically, most notably as a cause of infective endocarditis.
Dental Caries
Look For
- Opaque, white to brown areas with central cavitation.
Significance
- Bacterial infection, predisposed by poor dentition as above.
Dental Erosions
Look For
- Loss of enamel resulting in yellow, indented lesions.
Causes of Dental Erosions
- Exogenous acid - dietary
- Endogenous acid - reflux, bulimia, rumination
Dental Trauma
Look For
- Visible fracture
- Mobility / luxation - loose teeth
- Avulsion - missing tooth with base still in situ
Significance
- Signs of dental trauma due to acute or repeated mechanical stress.
Avulsed teeth should be placed in milk or saliva until retransplantation is possible.
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