Over the last 20 years, our knowledge of biochemistry and molecular biology has undergone a revolution that has affected our understanding of the biology of the oral cavity. This book is designed to related ideas in biochemistry and molecular biology to selected, dentally related topics in physiology, nutrition, anatomy, histology, microbiology and immunology. Dentistry was developed to treat diseases of the teeth; originally, dental caries and periodontal disease, but later genetic diseases, such as impacted and overcrowded teeth, or unusual genetic conditions, such as cleft palate. Treatment has progressed enormously over the last 30 years, like those for many other diseases. New treatments have come in the form of fluoridation as well as applying oral hygiene measures and new materials, but diagnosing and treating the 10% of the population who will become severely affected remains a problem. This book is directly relevant to the practice of dentistry today as background for understanding bone, tooth, saliva and surrounding soft tissue research and also for appreciating how dental caries and periodontal disease might be better diagnosed and controlled in the future.

Necessary basics: elements, isotopes, ions, chemical reactions, energy metabolism and bacterial structures.- Photosynthesis and sucrose production.- The connective tissue extracellular matrix and its major components.- Fibrillar and non-fibrillar collagens & its integrin attachments.- Basal laminas and epithelia.- Elastic fibers and proteoglycans.- Collagen synthesis, genetic diseases and scurvy.- The zincins: collagen fiber processing and degradation.- Biological mineralization.- Bone remodeling and calcium metabolism.- Blood Coagulation.- Saliva.- Chronic Periodontitis.- Aggressive Periodontitis.- Dental caries.- Fluoride.