The prevalence of oral carriers of Candida in patients with tongue abnormalities

The prevalence of oral carriers of Candida in patients with tongue abnormalities was investigated among 51 patients and 23 controls. The salivary sample technique was used; salivary pH was measured. In the control group and in the fissured tongue group negative fungus growth was prominent. A positive culture was found in 16·6 per cent of the patients with filiform atrophy. Patients with geographic tongue had the highest carrier rate (90 per cent) compared with all the other tongue groups. A positive culture was found in 66·7 per cent of the patients with hairy tongue.

A relationship between oral yeasts and salivary acidity was found; candidal carriers had a lower salivary pH than non-carriers.     

Perception of dental needs by the well elderly

The elderly currently represent approximately 12% of the US total population. Although there is considerable variation within the population older than 60, there is evidence that the general health and socioeconomic status of this age group is different enough from the young and middle-aged population to warrant special consideration in the health-care delivery system (Dr. Saul Ka-men, unpublished data, 1979). Oral health care is also affected by changes in physical or economic factors that often accompany aging. The institutionalized elderly are those severely hampered by both physical and economic disabilities, and represent 5% of those older than 65. The unmet dental needs of these individuals have been estimated at from 50% to 80% and are well documented.^1–3     

Polyol-combinant saliva stimulants and oral health in Veterans Affairs patients—An exploratory study

An exploratory study investigated the root caries incidence in Department of Veterans Affairs patients with exposed root surfaces. For a period of six to 30 months, the subjects were systematically assigned to groups which used chewable dragées or chewing gums that contained either xylitol or sorbitol as bulk sweeteners. The mean treatment time was 1.8 years (standard deviation = 0.8). The consumption levels of both polyols was up to 8.5 g daily, used typically in five episodes during a 16-hour period. The subjects were examined every six months in connection with their standard scheduled visits at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The risk for a root-surface lesion in the xylitol group was only 19% of that for a surface in the sorbitol group (relative risk, 0.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.06–0.62; p <0,0065). Simultaneous study in periodontal patients showed that both polyols significantly reduced the gingival index scores, and slightly (but not significantly) reduced the plaque index scores. Collectively, both studies suggest that frequent daily consumption of chewable, saliva-stimulating products containing essentially nonfermentable or slowly fermentable dietary carbohydrate sweeteners (xylitol and sorbitol) may have an oral-health-improving effect in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center patients. It is necessary to evaluate if these procedures would be efficacious in larger and expanded patient cohorts.     

Histologic evaluation of skin-derived and collagen-based substrates implanted in palatal wounds

Tissue shortage complicates the surgery of cleft lip and palate anomalies and the healing of defects on the palate impairs growth of the dento-alveolar complex due to scar tissue formation. Implantation of substitutes into the wound area might overcome this adverse effect. The aim of this study was to compare the tissue response to three collagen-based (collagen type I substrate alone, or collagen coated with elastin or chondroitin-6-sulfate) and two skin-derived substrates (unprocessed dermis and AlloDerm) after implantation into 12 dogs. Histology was performed at 3, 10, and 20 days postsurgery. We showed that all substrates were well tolerated. However, it is unclear whether AlloDerm was rapidly degraded or if it was sequestrated. There was no elastin or collagen present in these wounds. All collagen-based substrates showed good epithelial regeneration, although heparan sulfate (JM 403) was absent. Wounds treated with the collagen-based substrates contained fewer myofibroblasts at 20 days postsurgery and the type III collagen fibers in the immature scar tissue were more randomly oriented than in an untreated wound. In conclusion, palatal wounds with a dermal substrate heal with fewer indications of scar tissue formation and evoke only a mild inflammatory reaction, which is preferred over the tissue reaction in an untreated wound.     

Fabrication of a Fixed Partial Denture in the Class II Partial Edentulous Mandible Using the UCLA Abutment: A Clinical Report

Several methods are currently available to restore the partially edentulous patient with osseointegrated implants. The UCLA abutment eliminates the unesthetic, traditional transmucosal abutment and can provide esthetic crowns, fixed prostheses, and subgingival porcelain margins without the need for excessive instrumentation and components. A clinical report for the fabrication of a direct, implant-borne fixed prosthesis using the UCLA abutment is presented.