Veterinary Dentistry – Dental Diseases Practice Exam

Calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate buildup on the tooth is dental calculus, also known as tartar. It forms when minerals in saliva precipitate into dental plaque, mineralizing it into a hard, calcified layer that can sit above the gum line or below it. This rough, mineralized surface invites more plaque and bacteria, contributing to periodontal inflammation and disease. Because calculus is hardened, brushing alone won’t remove it; professional cleaning with scaling is needed. Plaque is the soft biofilm before mineralization, gingivitis is inflammation of the gums from plaque, and stains are pigment deposits—calculus is the mineralized version of a plaque buildup.