levels of calculus and location of formation are population specific and are affected by oral hygiene habits, access to professional care, diet, age, ethnic origin, time since last dental cleaning, systemic disease and the use of prescription medications.
with very good oral hygiene and professional oral health care, calculus forms usually on tooth surfaces adjacent to the salivary ducts. supragingival calculus will be minimal and subgingival would correspond to the degree of periodontal neglect or disease.
the main way that plaque is converted to calculus is by mineralization - the minerals are provided by saliva and crevicular fluids and any medications that might alter these minerals.
mineralization inhibitors in toothpastes and mouthrinses tend to decrease the mineralization rate and help control supraging. calc. formation.
calculus and plaque have an interdependent relationship in the disease process as well as formation.
in summary:
certain people form calculus faster than others. factors that increase the rate of calculus formation are:
elevated salivary pH (alkaline)
elevated salivary calcium concentration
elevated bacterial protein and lipid concentration
elevated concentration of protein and urea in submandibular salivary gland secretions (i am not exactly sure of the mechanism involved here but i do know that people with kidney problems would tend to form calculus more quickly due to increased urea levels)
low individual inhibitory factors
higher total salivary lipid levels
