Bite force and oral function in patients with osseointegrated oral implants

abstract – The function of the masticatory system was analyzed in 19 patients (13 women and 6 men), aged 39 to 68, randomly selected from a group of 165 patients who had been treated with osseointegrated oral implants within the last 7 years (average 3.5 years). The patients were well satisfied with the functional capacity of their implant reconstructions, especially compared with the poor function before treatment. According to the clinical examination, all but one patient had no or only mild symptoms of dysfunction of the masticatory system. Three bite-force levels were recorded. The mean value for gentle biting was 15.7 N, for biting as when chewing 50.1 N, and for maximal biting 144.4 N. The patients could thus well discriminate between the different bite-force levels, and the maximal values are much higher than those in persons with removable dentures.     

A cross-sectional study of DMFT and CPITN scores in a group of Indonesian soldiers

Abstract – A cross-sectional clinical study showed that the prevalence of caries among Indonesian soldiers was low, compared with that found in corresponding Western populations. Also, the progression of caries was very slow, and caries was limited almost exclusively to the occlusal surfaces of the teeth. Among officers, the prevalence of caries was lower than it was among other ranks of the same age. The low general prevalence of caries among Indonesian soldiers may be related to diet. Rice was the major source of carbohydrate for the soldiers, and their sucrose consumption was 10 kg per person per year. Their drinking water contained a low concentration of fluoride (0.1 ppm). In spite of massive accumulations of calculus, the periodontal health of young soldiers (< 26 yr) was also good. Among those in higher age groups, however, periodontal health had deteriorated, but even in a group aged 40–46 yr, no teeth had been lost as a result of periodontal disease. Among officers, periodontal health was better than it was amongst other ranks of corresponding age. The officers had been accustomed to brushing their teeth regularly, whereas the other ranks had not. It thus appears that toothbrushing may help to preserve periodontal health, even when large amounts of calculus are present on the teeth and there is no opportunity for it to be removed regularly by a dentist.     

Positive Correlation between Urinary Excretion of Catecholamine Metabolites and Tumour Mass in Pheochromocytoma

ABSTRACT In a series of 53 pheochromocytoma patients operated on at Sahlgren's Hospital during 1956-82, a positive linear correlation is established between the 24-hour urinary excretion of vanilmandelic acid (μmol/24 h) and tumour mass (g). A similar corrrelation was found between the excretion of metanephrines and tumour mass in 33 subjects. The patients were subgrouped according to their type of hypertension. A statistically significant correlation between vanilmandelic acid excretion and tumour mass persisted in groups IA (sustained hypertension without attacks), IB (sustained hypertension with attacks), and II (paroxysmal hypertension) but not in group III (miscellaneous patients). There was also a correlation between metanephrine excretion and tumour mass in groups IB (n=8) and II (n=12). In 10 patients with the syndrome of multiple endocrine neoplasia, a positive correlation was found between tumour mass and the excretion of vanilmandelic acid, metanephrines and adrenaline.     

Gastrointestinal and in vitro release of copper, cadmium, indium, mercury and zinc from conventional and copper-rich amalgams

Abstract – Particles of a conventional lathe-cut, a spherical non-gamma 2 and a copper amalgam have been gastrointestinally administered to rats for the purpose of evaluation of the dissolution resistance. The animals were sacrificed after 20 hrs. The contents of copper, cadmium, indium, mercury and zinc in kidney, liver, lung or blood were measured using nuclear tracer techniques. From a copper amalgam an extreme release of copper was demonstrated. This study simulates the clinical condition of elemental release from swallowed amalgam particles after amalgam insertion or after removal of old amalgam fillings. Specimens of the same types of amalgams were also exposed to artificial saliva for a period of 10 days. The amounts of copper and mercury released were measured with flame and flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry respectively. The levels of copper and mercury released from the copper amalgam were approximately 50 times those of the two other amalgam types studied.     

Muscle Function and Morphology in Myotonic Dystrophy

Abstract. Patients with myotonic dystrophy classified clinically into function groups were studied. Muscle strength for knee extension and flexion was, with few exceptions, moderately or markedly reduced with successively more severe clinical disability. The reduction in maximal walking speed showed a similar tendency. There was a large percentage of both type I and in relation to normal findings of type II C fibers in biopsies from most patients. The fiber area varied greatly even in the patients in the best function groups, some of whom had large type II fibers. The most common histopathological changes, found in all function groups, were fiber atrophy with small angular fibers, internal nuclei, splitting, fibrosis and moth-eaten fibers. A high percentage of type I fibers can already be seen in patients with practically no other morphological changes and without significant functional deterioration.     

Iron staining of the acquired enamel pellicle after exposure to tannic acid or chlorhexidine: preliminary report

Abstract – Extrinsic discoloration of teeth following a large consumption of tannin-containing beverages or a prolonged use of chlorhexidine mouthrinses is a well known observation. Tannins as well as chlorhexidine are denaturing agents. Based on preliminary studies revealing the presence of iron in chlorhexidine discolored pellicle material, the ability of iron to stain the integument after pretreatmentwith the two denaturants was studied in a human model. The denaturing effect of an acidic environment was also included. Enamel slabs fixedto acrylie appliances were carried in the oral cavity and alternately exposed to the test solutions in different sequences in vitro. Pretreatment with chlorhexidine or tannic acid led to marked discolorations upon iron application during 5-d tests, whereas the compounds individually had no such effect. A large content of the metal was found in the stained material. Stannous fluoride appeared to reduce the formation of the pigments, and strong oxidation completely bleached the established color. Possible mechanisms underlying the phenomena observed are discussed.     

Cinefluoroscopic study of long-term changes of bolus position and chewing cycle duration after fixed prosthetic treatment

Abstract— Some chewing parameters were studied in 12 patients with a complete maxillary denture and a 12-unit fixed mandibular denture anchored to the two canines. Registration by means of fluoroscopy were made before, 1 month after, and in four patients 13 yr after treatment. The mean velocity of the mandible during chewing increased after the prosthetic treatment and remained stable for meat during the observation period. At the first registration, before treatment, the bolus was most frequently located in the anterior region. After completion of the prosthetic rehabilitation, the bolus was mainly located to the lateral segments during chewing of the test foods, namely meat and bread. The recordings were almost identical 13 yr later. Despite a very reduced periodontal support, posterior cantilevered segments were satisfactorily used in comminution and the patients seemed to be unaware of the forces exerted on the remaining teeth.     

Comparison of effects of electromyographicbiofeedback and occlusal splint therapy on mandibular dysfunction

Abstract – In order to evaluate and compare the effects of biofeedback and occlusal splint therapy on mandibular dysfunction, 30 patients were randomly divided into two treatment groups. The patients were women aged 20–40 years without any obvious organic- reasons for their symptoms. There were no signiGcant differences between the two groups before the start of treatment in respect of signs and symptoms of mandifoiaiar dysfunction. One group used full coverage splints at night for 6 weeks. The other group received biofeedback training up to six times, 30 min per session. One month after completion of the therapy the patients were re-examined. Both groups showed a significant reduction in symptoms, both subjectively and clinically. No significant differences between the groups were found. The two treatments were thus equally effective in the short-term perspective in patients with signs and symptoms of mandibuiar dysfunction.