The main web site for Dental Biochemistry is at: Since you’ve all had biochemistry before: you should recognize about 2/3 of the material as material you’ve had before. About 1/3 of the material consists of applying basic biochemistry to understanding understanding biological processes of relevance to your profession. Your overall objective is to link the basic material to the applied material.

Caries Fibrous proteins Connective tissue Immunoglobulins Inflammation Blood clotting Drug resistance Hemoglobin Taste Hormones Bones and teeth Nutrition Diabetes Cancer pH Carbohydrates Amino acids Proteins Enzymes Lipids Membranes Glycolysis TCA cycle Ox. Phos. Pentose phosphate Gluconeogenesis Glycogen Urea cycle AA metabolism Nucleotide metabolsim Lipid metabolism Replication Transcription Translation Biomolecules Pathways Physiological processes

Micrograph of a white spot lesion Erosion is sub-surface. Surface layer is yet to break through.

Summary of processes involved in caries Ca 10 (OH) 2 (PO 4 ) 6

Stephan's Curve showing readings from a pH meter on the surface of enamel under plaque. Critical pH=5.5

pH and Tooth Decay Tooth enamel is 96% mineral. The mineral is primarily hydroxyapatite. Hydroxyapatite is crystalline calcium phosphate. Calcium phosphate is more soluble when the pH decreases (especially below 5.5): Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 + 8H + → 10Ca HPO H 2 O Some bacteria produce lactic acid when they metabolize sugars anaerobically. Lactic acid produced by tooth-attached bacteria initiates most tooth decay by dissolving the mineral of enamel.

Phosphate and Bicarbonate are the Major Buffers in Saliva pK a2 = 7.2 pK a1 = 6.1

Weak Acids as Buffers The titration curves of all monoprotic, weak acids have the same shape. The midpoint is at a pH value equal to the pK a value.

plaque pellicle enamel

Summary The objective is to envision your basic biochemical principles in the act of explaining how certain physiologic situations come about. Professors teaching the principles will help you out by interjecting some examples of the principles in action. Professors teaching about the physiologic situations will help you out by mentioning some of the principles at work. We will put some lectures about physiologic situations up front to establish what sorts of overall processes you are trying to understand. You can help yourself out by seeking as many connections as possible.

Exemption Exam There is an exemption exam on July 25. If you can answer 80/100 multiple choice questions, you can exempt the course. To prepare for the exemption exam:

Caries Fibrous proteins Connective tissue Immunoglobulins Inflammation Blood clotting Drug resistance Hemoglobin Taste Hormones Bones and teeth Nutrition Diabetes Introduction pH Carbohydrates Amino acids Proteins Enzymes Lipids Membranes Replication Transcription Translation Intro. metabolism Glycolysis TCA cycle Ox. Phos. Pentose phosphate Gluconeogenesis Glycogen Urea cycle AA metabolism Nucleotide metabolsim Lipid metabolism Read this stuff first

Caries Fibrous proteins Connective tissue Immunoglobulins Inflammation Blood clotting Drug resistance Hemoglobin Taste Hormones Bones and teeth Nutrition Diabetes Introduction pH Carbohydrates Amino acids Proteins Enzymes Lipids Membranes Replication Transcription Translation Intro. metabolism Glycolysis TCA cycle Ox. Phos. Pentose phosphate Gluconeogenesis Glycogen Urea cycle AA metabolism Nucleotide metabolsim Lipid metabolism Then ask how this stuff clarifies that stuff.

Test yourself using 2 nd half of final exam from previous years.