Dental Caries Essay

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DEOH 203 Assignment (Student ID: 7559879)

Dental caries is a multifactorial disease, resulting from the interrelationship between biological, social and environmental factors. A numerous risk factors are involved in the initiation and progression of the disease. In order to fully understand the effects of different risk factors on caries, it is important to have comprehended knowledge on the background mechanisms and the causes involved. New Zealand is a culturally versatile country which comprises individuals with different ethnic groups. Ethnicity is thought to be one of the many factors that place a person at a greater risk of developing the disease and may hasten its progression. In New Zealand, 'non-white' population are usually suffer from poverty and shown with poorer oral health. Within ethnicity, socio-economic status plays a major role (involves in income, demographic area, diet and education). Dental caries in children is an issue that cannot be ignored as it can affect their adult oral health and overall wellbeing.

Dental caries is the product of localised chemical dissolution of the tooth surface caused by metabolic events taking place in the biofilm (dental plaque) covering the affected area (Fejerskov, Kidd, Nyvad & Baelum, 2012). Carious lesion develops over time due to a complex interaction of bacteria acid and carbohydrate with saliva and teeth (Manton, Drummond & Kilpatrick, 2012). The host factors- teeth, microbes and diet are all interrelated in the oral cavity. The caries process is determined by the quality of tooth and saliva (important role in remineralisation by providing hydroxyapatite). The bacteria that are present in the oral cavity are known as dental plaque, t...

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Manton, D., Drummond, B.K., & Kilpatrick, N. (2012). Dental caries. In A.C. Cameron & R.P. Widmer (Eds). Handbook of Pediatric Dentistry (pp.39-52). London: Mosby-Elsevier.
Ministry of Health (2013). The health of Maori adults and children. Retrieved from http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/health-maori-adults-and-children
Schluter, P., Durward, C, Cartwright, S., & Paterson, J. (2007). Maternal self -report of oral health in 4 -year- old Pacific children from South Auckland, New Zealand: Findings from the Pacific Islands families study. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 67(2), 69-77.
Sherman, C. (2011). Dental health of children from a low socio-economic background: socio-political nursing in the New Zealand context. Whitireia Nursing Journal, 18, 15-24. Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com/docview/957056713?accountid=14700

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