Plaque-removing effect of a toothbrush, dental floss, and a toothpick

The ability of three different oral hygiene devices to remove 2-day-old bacterial deposits was evaluated on 21 young adults with healthy periodontia. On buccal tooth surfaces, the cleaning effect of a multitufted nylon brush was superior to that of a wooden toothpick or unwaxed dental floss. On lingual surfaces, the toothpick was as effective as the brush. On the visible portions of proximal surfaces, all three devices were equally efficient. A combined cleaning exercise with all three instruments together yielded significantly better results than did the use of each single device. Eight subjects were able to remove all disclosable deposits.     

Leadership: a new look, a new time, and established leadership

The executive director of the American Dental Association characterizes leadership as involving inspiration, vision, and hope in the service of change. The need is great and the opportunities of numerous. Leadership has been built at the ADA through identifying a shared set of core values and through a billion dollar national Campaign for Dental Education. Although the future of the profession is bright, the outstanding leadership challenges include: increasing access, the cost and faculty shortages in dental education, globalization, emerging biotechnology, licensure, increasing the public's perceived value of oral health, and workforce matters.     

Fabrication of a screw-retained, implant-supported, provisional prosthesis: a clinical report

An implant supported conversion prosthesis may provide patients with the advantages of a fixed prosthesis immediately after a surgical procedure. This report describes the fabrication of an implant-supported conversion prosthesis using a metal framework fabricated by estimating the implant positions before second-stage surgery.     

Effects of Tempol, a membrane-permeable radical scavenger, in a rodent model periodontitis

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated that Tempol (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl), a cell membrane-permeable radical scavenger, exerts protective effects in various models of inflammation and shock. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a pivotal role in the induction of genes involved in physiological processes as well as in the response to inflammation. AIM: We have investigated the effect of Tempol in a rat model of periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Periodontitis was induced in rats by placing a 2/0 braided silk ligature around the lower left first molar. At day 8, the gingivomucosal tissue encircling the mandibular first molar was removed for evaluation of neutrophils infiltration, tissue permeability, nitrotyrosine formation, poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activation, radiography and histology. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Legation significantly induced an increased neutrophil infiltration and a positive staining for nitrotyrosine formation and PARP activation. Ligation significantly increased Evans blue extravasation in gingivomucosal tissue and alveolar bone erosion as evaluated by radiography analysis. Intraperitonial injection of Tempol (10 mg/kg daily for 8 days) significantly decreased all of the parameters of inflammation as described above. This suggests that antioxidant therapies, which interfere with ROS, may be of benefit in the treatment of periodontitis.     

Saliva, a physiological medium

Plaque and plaque fluid, rather than saliva, are of prime importance in determining the result of the interaction between tooth enamel and its environment. The concentration of calcium and phosphate ions is higher in plaque fluid than in saliva. Local supersaturation may result in the remineralization of white spot lesions or in the formation of calculus. The latter may be inhibited with containing dentifrices. Undersaturation, resulting from bacterial acids production, promotes dental caries. Fluorides are effective against caries, although the limited transporting properties of saliva would be recognized when designing caries preventive treatments. Suppleting saliva with calcium and phosphat ions through mouthrinses is another method to fight caries, while stimulation of the secretion by chewing gum is also very effective.     

Ghana, a liberated country

On the 6 March 2007, Ghana in West Africa celebrated 50 years of independence from British rule. This account by Catherine Bruckner describes where Ghana has come from, where it is now in terms of healthcare and dentistry and looks towards the future of this beautiful, culturally rich and joyful country.     

Nonpainful, erythematous, circinate lesions of a protean nature on a fissured tongue

We have presented a case of BMG with concomitant fissured tongue, a not uncommon association for two rather common oral diseases. BMG is relatively simple to recognize, and the diagnosis most commonly is based on clinical appearance and history of the presence of the lesions. Clinicians should be aware, however, of the similarity, clinically and histologically, of lesions of BMG with other, more serious diseases such as psoriasis and Reiter's syndrome. Patients with characteristic lesions of BMG should be evaluated closely for signs and symptoms of these other diseases.     

Condylar-mandibular asymmetry,a reality

The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility to recognize a condylar-mandibular asymmetry through a panoramic radiograph. Results from a previous work, in which 100 skulls from the Museum of the Institute of Anatomy of the University of Pavia were studied and measured, showed the presence of asymmetry. Using the same skulls we examined the possible correlation between morphological and radiological data. We did not find out correlation's between the condylar asymmetry evaluated at the anatomical level and the radiological asymmetry which was indeed found. This is probably due to the different positioning of the jaws during the two different measuring processes. Nevertheless our results confirm the daily experience of dentistry: asymmetry of mandibular condyle can be one of the mayor causes for the asymmetry of the stomatognatic apparatus.