The most frequently isolated gram-negative anaerobes in saliva and subgingival samples taken from young women

Stimulated saliva and a pooled subgingival sample from the first molars were collected from 30 Caucasian women (mean age 30 years) for the presence of gram-negative anaerobic bacteria. The samples were inoculated on nonselective and selective media. The gram-negative anaerobic species occurring in the oral cavity of more than 50% of the subjects were selected for further analysis. Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella melaninogenica were not recovered from subgingival sites without a simultaneous recovery in saliva. When positive subgingivally, Leplotrichia spp., nonpigmented Prevotella spp., Prevotella intermedia, Capnocytopha-ga spp., Bacteroides gracilis and Prevotella loescheii were simultaneously detected from saliva in 76%, 72%), 64%>, 64%, 61% and 55% of the subjects, respectively. Intraindividually, the proportions of F. nucleatum, nonpigmented Prevotella spp., Leptotrichia spp., B. gracilis and P. loescheii of the anaerobic flora were quite similar in the salivary and subgingival samples. Capnocytophaga spp. and P. intermedia were present in higher proportions in subgingival samples than in saliva, whereas P. melaninogenica was present in higher proportions in saliva. Our data indicate that many oral gram-negative anaerobes are frequently recovered from stimulated saliva. Furthermore, when subgingivally positive, most subjects harbored these anaerobes simultaneously in saliva.     

Local anesthetics: dentistry's most important drugs, clinical update 2006

Local anesthetics are the safest most effective drugs in medicine for the control and management of pain. They also represent the most important drugs in dentistry. Today, dentistry has a spectrum of local anesthetics that permit pain control to be tailored to the specific needs of the patient: short-, intermediate-, and long-acting drugs. Bupivacaine has become a standard part of the armamentarium for postsurgical pain control while articaine has become the second-most used local anesthetic in the United States since its introduction in 2000. Despite an increase in anecdotal reports of paresthesia since articaine's introduction there is yet, no supporting scientific evidence.     

Immunomodulatory drugs: Oral and systemic adverse effects

Objectives: The main objectives are to present the different adverses effects of the immunomodulatory drugs that can impair the quality of life of the immunosupressed patients and study the impact of immunomodualtion on oral diseases. Immunomodulatory drugs have changed the treatment protocols of many diseases where immune functions play a central role, such as rheumatic diseases. Their effect on oral health has not been systematically investigated, however. Study Design: We review current data on the new immunomodulatory drugs from the oral health perspective based on open literature search of the topic. Results: These target specific drugs appear to have less drug interactions than earlier immunomodulating medicines but have nevertheless potential side effects such as activating latent infections. There are some data showing that the new immunomodulatory drugs may also have a role in the treatment of certain oral diseases such as lichen planus or ameliorating symptoms in Sjögren´s syndrome, but the results have not been overly promising. Conclusions: In general, data are sparse of the effect of these new drugs vs. oral diseases and there are no properly powered randomized controlled trials published on this topic. Key words:Immunomodulatory drugs, oral diseases, adverse effects, therapeutic action.     

Commonly prescribed medical drugs and their significance in dental therapy. Part I--The antibiotics

An analysis of Tables I and II reveals that the 20 drugs most frequently prescribed by family practitioners may be classified into 10 therapeutic categories. The antibiotics constitute the numerically largest group. The medical use, adverse reactions, and dental significance of these antibiotics have been described. The remaining drugs will be discussed using a similar format in subsequent papers.     

Oral mucous membrane reactions to drugs and chemicals.

This article reviews recent reports of interest to practitioners concerned with the damaging effects of drugs and exogenous substances on the oral mucosa. Major topics include the incidence of the use of dentally important drugs in selected populations, lichenoid reactions in oral mucosa, diagnosis and management of mucositis related to cancer therapy, and issues relating to the diagnosis of oral foreign body reactions.