| dental plaque | <dentistry> A soft, thin film of food debris, mucin and dead epithelial cells deposited on the teeth, providing the medium for the growth of various bacteria. The main inorganic components are calcium and phosphorus with small amounts of magnesium, potassium and sodium, the organic matrix consists of polysaccharides, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and other components. Plaque plays an important aetiological role in the development of dental caries and periodontal and gingival diseases and provides the base for the development of materia alba, calcified plaque forms dental calculus. (19 Mar 1998) |
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| dental plaque index | An index which scores the degree of dental plaque accumulation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fibrous plaque | Thickened area of arterial intima with accumulation of smooth muscle cells and fibrous tissue (collagen etc.) produced by the fat laden smooth muscle cells. Below the thickening may be free extracellular lipid and debris that, if much necrosis is also present, is referred to as an atheroma. (18 Nov 1997) |