Short term results of three modalities of periodontal treatment.

Short term data were obtained from 74 patients who recieved comprehensive periodontal treatment using a split mouth approach to test three variables; subgingival curettage, pocket elimination surgery, and modified Widman flap procedure. The patients initially had an average interproximal loss of attachment of 3.2 mm and an average interproximal pocket depth of 3.9 mm. Evaluation of the data indicate that after 4 to 6 weeks: 1. All three surgical procedures reduce pocket depths. In order of effectiveness they are: pocket elimination surgery, modified Widman flap, and subgingival curettage. 2. Pocket elimination surgery reduces pockets more than subgingival curettage on the buccal, lingual and interproximal, and more than the modified Widman flap on the lingual. The modified Widman flap procedure reduces pockets more interproximally than subgingival curettage. 3. Subgingival curettage results in a gain of attachment interproximally, and on the lingual side, while the modified Widman flap resulted in a gain of attachment interproximally only. 4 Pocket elimination surgery resulted in a loss of attachment buccally. 5 Subgingival curettage results in a more favorable postoperative attachment level on all surfaces than did pocket elimination surgery.     

'Love Teeth Day' campaign in China and its impact on oral public health - the twentieth anniversary

The date 20 September has been designated 'Love Teeth Day' (LTD) in China since 1989. The aim of this nationwide campaign is to encourage all Chinese people to conduct preventive oral public health care and promote oral health education; therefore it is beneficial to improve the levels of oral health in the whole Chinese population. Public awareness of oral health in China has substantially improved following 20 years of hard work from dental professionals and relevant departments. The main activities were planned and conducted by the National Committee for Oral Health and local committees at provincial, county and municipal levels to support preventive oral care. The LTD campaign attracts more and more attention from the public on the prevention and control of oral diseases, which is considered to be an extremely pioneering health care programme in the field of Chinese dentistry. This review provides an overview of the huge LTD campaign over the past 20 years, aiming to share our experiences with international dental professionals.     

Painless swelling proved to be a central giant cell granuloma

A 32-year-old female patient was referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with an asymptomatic swelling in the left mandibular premolar region. After extraction of these premolars and enucleation of the lesion histopathological examination confirmed the presence of a giant cell granuloma. This is a benign lesion and enucleation generally results in a permanent cure and is only recurrent in a few cases. Approximately 1 year after treatment, the patient was still free of recurrence and together with a prosthodontist, the appropriate rehabilitation of the resulting defect will be sought.     

No alteration in bone mineral density in patients with periodontitis

Alveolar bone destruction can be magnified in the presence of generalized skeletal disorders. We questioned whether severe generalized periodontitis patients display signs of bone metabolism disturbances. Our objective was to assess skeletal bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical bone parameters in premenopausal women with periodontitis. Forty-five patients and 40 control individuals were included in the study. We measured BMD by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The results showed no difference in BMD values between the periodontitis and control groups (p > 0.05). A positive relationship between the clinical attachment level and Body Mass Index (BMI) scores was observed (p = 0.03). Increased serum creatinine levels were noted in the periodontitis group (p = 0.04). Analysis of the data suggests that there is no evidence for an association between skeletal BMD and severe periodontitis in premenopausal women. There may be a link between elevated creatinine levels and periodontitis. The persons with high BMI scores seemed to be at risk for periodontitis.     

Widespread oral and oropharyngeal mucosal oedema induced by ecstasy (MDMA): A case for concern

We describe an unusual adverse reaction that was probably caused by taking ecstasy: the patient developed widespread oral and oropharyngeal mucosal oedema, which was triggered after he had taken ecstasy and alcohol. The reaction to this could have been fatal.     

Results of a 3-year oral hygiene programme, including amine fluoride products, in patients treated with fixed orthodontic appliances

This paper reports the results of a 3-year study on children treated with fixed orthodontic appliances. They were all regularly instructed in oral hygiene maintenance and used a standardized fluoride-free toothpaste during the course of the study. The patients were divided into three groups. Groups one and two, respectively, had a fluoride gel and fluoride fluid (Elmex amine fluoride products, GABA International Ltd, Basle, Switzerland) applied. Group three used only the toothpaste supplied, had oral hygiene instruction, but not topical applications. Caries increments were lowest and gingival health best in the two groups using amine fluorides, especially the gel group.     

Total Etch—The Rational Dentin Bonding Protocol

Phosphoric acid etching of dentin is critically reexamined in view of current adhesive resin development. Research and clinical experience both suggest that "total etch," the simultaneous etching of dentin and enamel, is a rational protocol with many modern adhesive resins.     

Behandlung von Kindern mit Lippen-Kiefer-Gaumen-Spalten-ein Beitrag zur psychosozialen Rehabilitation

Zusammenfassung Die Langzeittherapie der Kinder mit oralen Spaltfehlbildungen beginnt im Idealfall noch am Tage der Geburt und reicht regelmäßig in die Adoleszenz. Die Ergebnisse einer anonymen Befragung der Eltern von Kindern im Alter von bis zu sieben Jahren mit oralen Spaltfehlbildungen, die in orthopädischer Frühbehandlung stehen oder standen, werden berichtet. Die Fragen betreffen dasGeburtserleben, die ersteärztliche Aufklärung, unsereFrühbehandlung und die psychosoziale Eingliederung der Kinder. Der Vergleich der Angaben von Eltern der Kinder mit Lippen-Kiefer-Gaumen-Spalte mit Eltern, die ein Kind mit isolierter Gaumenspalte haben, legt nahe, daß anfangs die Schwere des objektiven medizinischen Befundes nicht mit der subjektiven Befindlichkeit der Eltern korreliert. Die Verlaufsbeobachtung läßt zusätzlich den Schluß zu, daß nur wenige Eltern durch die Spaltfehlbildung ihres Kindes keinen zusätzlichen psychischen Problemen ausgesetzt sind.

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Summary The long term treatment of cleft palate patients starts immediatly after birth and is persecuted orderly to adolescence. The results of anonymous survey of the opinion of parents of cleft palate children who undergo or underwent early treatment procedures, up to seven years of age, are presented. Questions concerned mother's or parent's experience of birth, first medical information, early orthopedic care and treatment, and psychosocial adjustment of the children as well. This study suggests that objective findings in children and subjective conditions of parents do not correlate in the beginning, as is to be seen in cleft palate versus cleft lip palate group. One other conclusion indicates the existence of a small quantity of parents able to accept their affected child without additional problems arising from the cleft.

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Auszugsweise vorgetragen auf der 63. Wissenschaftlichen Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Kieferorthopädie, Heidelberg, 8. Juni 1990.