Question

Mrs. Hernandez is a 69-year-old client who comes to the dental office every 3 to 4 months for supportive periodontal maintenance visits. She retired approximately 1 year ago and plays cards almost daily. She takes several prescription medications for arthritis and blood pressure control and reports having a "very dry mouth." She finds that sucking on hard candies, which her friends always serve at these card games, effectively relieves her dryness. At home, she drinks copious amounts of water. Although she has been caries-free and periodontally stable for a number of years, at this appointment, four early root carious lesions have been found. A prescription for daily use of neutral 1.1 fluoride gel will also help prevent new carious lesions. What is the purpose of prescribing neutral 1.1 fluoride gel for Mrs. Hernandez?

1) To relieve her dry mouth
2) To prevent new carious lesions
3) To treat her arthritis
4) To control her blood pressure

Answer 1

Neutral 1.1 fluoride gel is prescribed to Mrs. Hernandez to prevent new carious lesions by strengthening the tooth enamel and promoting remineralization, crucial due to her dry mouth condition.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mrs. Hernandez has been prescribed neutral 1.1 fluoride gel with the purpose of preventing new carious lesions. The fluoride in the gel works by becoming incorporated into the hydroxyapatite of tooth enamel, making it more resistant to corrosive acids produced by oral microbes. Furthermore, fluoride enhances the uptake of calcium and phosphate ions in the tooth enamel, which promotes remineralization. Notably, fluoride has been shown to protect teeth from decay by rebuilding and strengthening the tooth's surface or enamel.

Given that Mrs. Hernandez experiences a "very dry mouth," which can contribute to an increased risk of caries due to a lack of saliva that normally helps protect teeth, the use of fluoride gel is especially crucial for her dental health. While fluoride does not directly treat dry mouth, it is effective in preventing the progression of early root carious lesions that have been discovered during her visit to the dental office.