Removable prosthodontic treatment needs: a survey

Population data on complete and removable partial prosthodontics in Iowa indicated the following. Denture wearers tend to be persons in the older age groups. The percentage of edentulous persons was lower than that reported nationally in 1971. Of every 1,000 persons, 156 were wearing dentures in one or both arches. Of every 1,000 persons, 53 needed a repair, reline, or replacement of an existing denture. Of every 1,000 persons, 70 needed a denture but were not wearing one. Persons of lower income and education were less likely to seek dental care but had the greatest need for treatment. Persons of lower income and education were at higher risk of having some form of mucosal lesions. The public will be unlikely to make use of dental services to prevent or treat lesions or to service a prosthesis unless they are specifically educated to do so.     

Intraoral melanoacanthoma

Two cases of melanoacanthoma occurring on oral mucous membranes are presented. Melanoacanthoma is considered to be a benign mixed tumor of keratinoacytes admixed with pigment-laden dendritic melanocytes. All intraoral melanoacanthomas reported thus far have been pigmented lesions of the buccal mucosa and have occurred in young to middle-aged black females. These tumors may grow rapidly and therefore they often mimic the radial growth phase of an intraoral melanoma. Because melanocanthomas have no distinguishing clinical features, biopsy is mandatory.     

Excision of buccal hemangioma by carbon dioxide laser beam.

The carbon dioxide laser beam was used successfully to extirpate a large buccal hemangioma in a child. No hemostats were required, as this new surgical modality affords a practically bloodless operative field. Tissue necrosis occurs only minimally at the borders of the incision. Operative intervention with the carbon dioxide laser beam in cases of hemangioma and other tumors of the oral cavity is advocated.     

Isolation of beta-lactamase-producing Bacteroides strains associated with clinical failures with penicillin treatment of human orofacial infections

Five patients with orofacial infection which failed to respond to penicillin therapy are described. In each instance, β-lactamase producing Bacteroides strains were found. All strains were resistant to penicillin but sensitive to clindamycin and tinidazole. In two cases, extended surgical treatment cured the patient, but in the other three cases additional clindamycin therapy was required.     

Interaction of lipids with acid-soluble bovine skin collagen

Acid-soluble bovine skin collagen was found to contain lipids even after exhaustive extractions with chloroform-methanol. To determine if this lipid fraction was bound covalently to collagen, the protein was partially hydrolyzed by chemical or enzymatic agents to yield a series of polypeptide fragments. Each of these polypeptides was isolated and found to be free of any accompanying lipid. It is concluded that the associated lipids of soluble bovine skin collagen are bound by weak intermolecular forces.     

Shear bond strengths of prosthodontic adhesive systems to a nickel-chromium-beryllium alloy.

Panavia, a composite resin luting agent containing phosphate monomers, bonds chemically to air-abraded base metal alloys and is particularly suited for cementing resin-bonded retainers. Another adhesive methodology (Silicoater system) incorporates a pyrolytically applied silica layer to metal substrates to promote bonding of a resin adhesive. The object of this study was to compare prosthodontic adhesive systems that incorporated the Silicoater system and/or Panavia. The results showed that the surface treatment that provided significantly higher shear bond strengths was the Silicoater system and a layer of unfilled resin. A second test evaluated use of Panavia as a metal opaquing material beneath laboratory light-curing resins. Results showed that Panavia Opaque material was displaced peripherally during placement of overlying laboratory composite resin veneers. This resulted in an uneven intermediate layer of Panavia.