Dental Assistant Case Study

To provide the best services as a Dental assistant we need to be able to understand the risk factors given to us in each case we are presented with. Mike Green is a 19 year old man who has came into the office. His file has presented us with all of the information we need to understand the concept of why is oral cavity is the way it is. His Mandibular third molars are partially erupted and horizontally impacted which may lead to having them removed. Dental assistance need to understand the importance of dental caries and periodontal disease, what the risk factors are and what to tell the patient for future home care prevention.

As a registered dental assistant identifying and understanding risk factors for dental caries and periodontal disease …show more content…
He has had previous orthodontics done and is left with an archwire that may be a magnet for plaque biofilm, regular brushing may not be able to clean out all of the food and debris that can be stuck behind that wire. Mike also says he drinks a pop or an energy drink at least once a day which is destroying his teeth more than he knows. The carbonated products allows the process of dental caries to begin once the acid in these drinks hits the enamel, which is the outermost layer of the tooth. This acid making contact with the enamel decreases the hardness and begins to effect the next layer of the tooth which is the dentin. Mike is a smoker and tends to smoke five to six cigarettes for a year. Smoking can lead to stain, periodontal disease, tooth extraction and in severe cases oral cancer. Tobacco will rub on the teeth and wear away the enamel that protects the outside of each tooth. Cigarettes limit your mouth's ability to fight off infection, which then allows plaque to build up greatly and form a dental caries. Smoking affects not just your teeth but everywhere in the oral cavity, including the gingiva. Smoking is one of the main causes for periodontal disease, it weakens the gingiva and allows bacteria to build up. Tobacco use is the most important preventable risk factor in dental caries and periodontal disease. Smoking increases pocket depth, attachment loss and bone loss in the oral structure,. Allowing tobacco into your mouth reduces the amount of oxygen getting to the soft tissue. Too much acid in a person's mouth ruins the email and bad oral care can lead to heart disease. The risk factors in this case are evident as to why Mike has excessive

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