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1. (n.) dental caries
decay in teeth caused by bacteria that form acids in the presence of sucrose, other sugars, and refined starches.
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| Definition of 'dental caries' |
Princeton's WordNet |
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1. (noun) cavity, caries, dental caries, tooth decay
soft decayed area in a tooth; progressive decay can lead to the death of a tooth
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| Definition of 'dental caries' |
U.S. National Library of Medicine |
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1. dental caries
Localized destruction of the tooth surface initiated by decalcification of the enamel followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures and leading to cavity formation. If left unchecked, the cavity may penetrate the enamel and dentin and reach the pulp. The three most prominent theories used to explain the etiology of the disease are that acids produced by bacteria lead to decalcification; that micro-organisms destroy the enamel protein; or that keratolytic micro-organisms produce chelates that lead to decalcification.
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