Microbial contamination in intraoral phosphor storage plates: the dilemma

Clinical Oral Investigations - The aims of this study were to evaluate microbial contamination in phosphor storage plates in dental radiology services and discuss the possible origin of this...     

A clinical, demographic and microbiologic study of ANUG patients in an urban dental school

35 ANUG patients were examined and compared clinically and demographically. Plaque removed from ulcerated sites in 20 patients was cultured using quantitative anaerobic procedures and examined by electron and darkfield microscopy. Patients were classified as having ANUG when presenting with ulceration and necrosis of interproximal papillae, pain and bleeding. The clinical symptoms of fetid odor, pseudomembrane formation, lymphadenopathy and elevated body temperature were present in 97%, 85%, 61% and 39% of the ANUG patients, respectively. 83% of the patients were smokers. The ANUG patients demonstrated a lower average age (24 years) than the general clinic population (32 years). There was a slightly higher % of male (54%) than female (46%) and the % of Caucasian (51%) and black (49%) ANUG patients were almost equal. Cultural studies revealed that gram-negative rods were the predominant cultivable micro-organisms present in the plaque, representing 78.2% of the total recoverable count. Of these, nearly half were strict anaerobes with Bacteroides gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum accounting for 7.8% and 3.4%, respectively. Anaerobic and facultative gram-positive cocci (15.5%), gram-negative cocci (3.5%) and gram-positive rods (2.8%) were also isolated. Microscopic analysis of the morphologic composition of plaque revealed that rods (43%) constituted the greatest % of the total microorganisms observed followed by spirochetes (30%) and cocci (27%). 8 distinct types of spirochetal periplasmic flagellar arrangement were observed by electron microscopy, the "2-4-2" periplasmic flagellar arrangement being most numerous.     

The microbiologic cross-contamination of dental prostheses

Improved sterile techniques in handling patients' dental prostheses can substantially reduce cross-contamination that may occur from the pumice and rag wheel, thereby diminishing the patient's exposure to potentially pathogenic bacteria. Methods for decreasing or eliminating these microorganisms are not only simple and practical to initiate but also time and cost effective.     

An analysis of endodontic treatments at a dental school

A bstract — Analysis of student endodontio treatment in 143 teeth showed a high incidence of positive cultures in initially vital teeth. Radiographic check of the canal point before sealing is important and its position was found unsatisfactory in 32 per cent and after sealing lateral filling defects in the apical third were noted in 25 per cent of teeth. In 18 per cent of cases with periapical lesions root canal sealer was found in the periapical tissues. Assessment by tutors needs to be standardized.     

Patients' evaluation of the outpatient services in a school of dental medicine

Dr. Kress and his associates have performed an interesting service by determining the likes and dislikes of patients treated by students in the dental clinics of Schools of Dentistry.     

Recent graduates' evaluation of their dental school education

To assess recent dental graduates' perceptions about the adequacy of their education, a random sample of individuals who graduated between 1980 and 1982 was surveyed. The 362 respondents (56 percent response rate) indicated their perceived level of preparedness and the importance to practice of 75 topics in the dental school curriculum. The means for level of preparedness and importance to practice were plotted for each of the 75 topics. Those topics that new dentists believed to be underemphasized or overemphasized in the curriculum were identified. These findings have implications for planning curricular changes for dental education.