Oral carriage of Candida species and coliforms in patients with burning mouth syndrome

The oral carriage of Candida species and coliforms in a healthy adult population and a group of patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) was investigated. The intra-oral prevalence of Candida species and coliforms was higher in the BMS group compared with the controls. The most frequent yeast isolated from the BMS group was Candida albicans while Enterobacter and Klebsiella species were the most prevalent coliforms. The possible reasons and the significance of the above findings are discussed.     

Effect of tetracycline and SnF2 on root resorption in replanted incisors in dogs

The present study was made to assess the effect of applying SnF2, tetracycline, or both, to root surfaces of extracted teeth prior to replantation. In five young adult beagles, a total of 18 mandibular incisors were extracted, bench dried for 45 min, and reimplanted in their respective sockets either after no further treatment or following treatment with 1% doxycycline HCl for 5 min, 1% SnF2 for 5 min, or 1% SnF2 followed by 1% doxycycline HCl. After 4 wk of healing, the relative frequency of root resorption (surface resorption, inflammatory resorption and replacement resorption) was approximately 27% of the root surface in bench-dried as well as in doxycycline-treated specimens. By contrast, SnF2-treated and SnF2 + doxycycline-treated teeth showed less than 1% resorption. In the latter two specimen groups an inflammatory reaction in the periodontal ligament without resorption occurred with a frequency of 38.3% and 11.1%, respectively. The results indicate that application of SnF2 to the root surface prior to replantation effectively reduces resorptive processes during the first postoperative weeks. By subsequently treating the root surface with tetracycline, the adverse effect of SnF2 on periodontal connective tissue repair may be reduced.     

Use of mini-fragment bone plates for reduction of midface fractures

A technique for using small plates in the management of midface fractures is presented. Principles of fracture management are similar to wire osteosynthesis. Anatomic rigid reduction allows more precise control and stabilization of the midfacial bone fragments, particularly the frontal process of the maxilla and the medial canthal region. In addition, rigid fixation aids in preventing inferomedial displacement of the zygomatic complex by the masseter muscle. The vertical dimension of the midface can be reestablished and stabilized by bone plate fixation without the need for suspension wires. Immediate opening of the mouth afforded by rigid fixation facilitates safe airway management, patient comfort, better oral hygiene, and speech and may circumvent the need for tracheostomy when concomitant nasal fractures are present.     

Peripheral PMN cell activity in relation to treatment of juvenile periodontitis

Ten patients with untreated juvenile periodontitis (JP) showing an increased generation rate of free oxygen radicals from their peripheral polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) as measured by luminol enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) were rechecked after treatment. The PMN cells from eight patients still reacted with higher CL after stimulation with Staph. aureus opsonized with autologous serum when related to pair-matched controls. The increased CL was not caused by adsorption of serum factors from untreated JP patients when assayed with healthy PMN cells. The increased CL found in peripheral PMN cells from patients with JP thus depends very little on the disease activity.     

Fracture resistance of endodontically prepared teeth using various restorative materials

This study compares the fracture resistance of endodontically treated premolars with modified types of cavity preparations and restoration with either amalgam or composite resin. The greatest influence on fracture resistance was the remaining tooth structure. The effect of adequate wall support on tooth strength was compared with intact unprepared teeth.     

Surgical correction of mandibulofacial deformities secondary to large cervical cystic hygromas

The clinical features of cystic hygroma are presented. The effect on mandibular morphology is described, and surgical correction of the deformities is discussed.     

Tissue localization of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in human periodontitis. I. Light, immunofluorescence and electron microscopic studies

Invasion of periodontal tissues by different bacterial morphotypes has been reported in human periodontitis; however, limited information is available as to prevalence, localization and the bacterial species involved. The present study determined prevalence and gingival localization of Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) actinomycetemcomitans in periodontal lesions of juvenile periodontitis patients. Thirty-five gingival biopsies were obtained from 12 juvenile periodontitis patients at the time of periodontal therapy. One additional control biopsy was obtained from each of two adult periodontally healthy subjects, one adult periodontitis patient and one periodontally healthy monkey (Macaca fosibolius). The biopsies were carefully processed to avoid mechanical introduction of bacteria into the tissues and were examined using light and electron microscopy. Rabbit antisera specific for the three A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes were used for immunofluorescence microscopic localization of A. actinomycetemcomitans antigens in the gingival sections. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed A. actinomycetemcomitans specific antigens in the gingival tissues of 11 of the 12 juvenile patients examined. None of the control specimens showed evidence of A. actinomycetemcomitans antigens in the gingival connective tissue. One specimen from a periodontally healthy subject and the monkey biopsy, however, showed A. actinomycetemcomitans antigens in bacterial plaque on the surface of the crevicular epithelium. Transmission electron microscopic examination showed microcolonies of small gram-negative rods in the connective tissue, as well as single bacterial cells between collagen fibers and in areas of cell debris. In addition to these extracellular bacterial cells, evidence of bacterial cells was also found within gingival connective tissue phagocytic cells. The data from the present study suggest that the gingival tissue in juvenile periodontitis lesions harbors A. actinomycetemcomitans.     

The effect of toothpaste containing triclosan on oral mucosal desquamation

Abstract SLS-containing toothpaste has previously been shown to cause oral mucosal desquamations when used in an experimental cap splint model. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of toothpastes containing SLS in combination with triclosan on oral mucosal desquamation in a similar cap splint model system. It has previously been shown that the antibacterial agent triclosan also may have anti-inflammatory properties. The concentration of triclosan in the experimental toothpastes was 0.3%, while SLS varied from 1.5% to 3%. No oral mucosal desquamations were observed after use of a 1.5% SLS – 0.3% triclosan containing toothpaste, contrary to the positive control toothpaste that contained 1.5% SLS without triclosan. Furthermore, a statistically significant reduction in severe desquamations was observed after use of a toothpaste containing 3% SLS – 0.3% triclosan compared with the positive control. It may thus be suggested that triclosan exerts a moderating effect on desquamative reactions caused by SLS and that the effect is dependent on the relative amount of triclosan and SLS in the toothpastes.