How does calculus attach to tooth surfaces?

Calculus attaches to tooth surfaces primarily through the acquired pellicle, which is a thin film of glycoproteins that forms on the enamel. This pellicle serves as a substrate for bacterial adhesion, allowing plaque to develop. Over time, the organic components of plaque can undergo mineralization, leading to the formation of calculus.

The acquired pellicle is significant because it provides an ideal surface for the accumulation of plaque, which, when not adequately removed, mineralizes and hardens into calculus. This process illustrates how the pellicle plays a crucial role in the initial stages of biofilm formation on the teeth, enabling calculus to develop through subsequent layers of bacterial deposition.

Other mechanisms, such as interlocking with crystals of the tooth or even penetration into enamel and dentine, are less relevant when discussing the primary attachment of calculus. While these processes can occur, they are not the main way calculus adheres to teeth compared to the influence of the acquired pellicle. Thus, emphasizing the acquired pellicle highlights its foundational role in calculus formation.