Comparison of Health and Risk Factors of Older,Working-age Australians,Italians and Italian-born Migrants to Australia,with Data from an Italian (PASSI), and an Australian (SAMSS) Risk Factor Surveillance System

Italian-born migrants (post-WWII) are the largest non-English-speaking background migrant group in South Australia. A cross-sectional, inter-country comparison using independent samples (40–69 years of age) from two (one in Australia, one in Italy) similar risk factor and chronic disease surveillance systems. None of the three groups (Italians, Australian-born and Italian-born Australians) had definitively worse health although the Italians had high rates for four of the seven risk factors reported (current high blood pressure, current high cholesterol, current smoking, eating less than five fruit and/or vegetables per day) than Australian-born and Italian-born Australians. Italian-born Australians had higher rates for insufficient physical activity, overweight/obese, poor self-reported health and diabetes. Australian respondents were more likely to report having two or more drinks of alcohol per day. Issues facing an ageing population require appropriate health care needs and an assessment of structural or cultural barriers to health services.     

Validation of a Sulfuric Acid Digestion Method for Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Quantification of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Nanoparticles

A consistent analytical method incorporating sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) digestion and ICP-MS quantification has been developed for TiO₂ quantification in biotic and abiotic environmentally relevant matrices. Sample digestion in H₂SO₄ at 110°C provided consistent results without using hydrofluoric acid or microwave digestion. Analysis of seven replicate samples for four matrices on each of 3 days produced Ti recoveries of 97%?±?2.5%, 91?% ±?4.0%, 94%?±?1.8%, and 73?% ±?2.6% (mean?±?standard deviation) from water, fish tissue, periphyton, and sediment, respectively. The method demonstrated consistent performance in analysis of water collected over a 1 month.     

Fissure sealant retention: a comparison of three sealant types under field conditions

Two two-year double-blind clinical trials were undertaken involving the newly-erupted first permanent molars of 133 children aged 5-6 years at the outset. In one study of 76 subjects, half the teeth were sealed with the filled sealants Prismashield or Estiseal. In the other study of 58 children, half were again sealed with Prismashield, and the others with the unfilled Concise white sealant, by a community dental service hygienist, as part of her routine dental duties. Subjects were examined under blind conditions at 6 monthly intervals and, by 24 months in the first study, 71 per cent of Prismashield sites were intact and caries-free, compared with only 53 per cent of Estiseal-treated tooth units (P less than 0.001). In the second study comparing Prismashield and Concise, by two years, 81 per cent of Prismashield resins were complete, compared with 88 per cent of the nonfilled Concise material. There were, however, no differences noted with respect to buccal and palatal site retention for either study. It can be concluded that Estiseal is a poorer material than Prismashield, certainly in relation to its bulk retention properties. Nonetheless it is possible that, along with other tooth-coloured/transparent resins, small fragments may not be as readily detectable as is the case with the unfilled Concise white sealant. However, as the abrasion resistance of unfilled materials is poorer than that of filled resins, the similar buccal/palatal site retention for Prismashield and Concise was also unexpected. Nevertheless this study illustrates again the value of sealant placement in the erupting first permanent molars of 5-6-year-old children, at a time when these teeth are most susceptible to carious attack.     

A new, small-color-difference equation for dental shades

Traditionally, dental-shade-guide standards are designated in terms of Munsell hue (H), value (V), and chroma (C). However, delta E color differences proposed as ADA tolerances for shade guides are in the CIE L*a*b* system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new color-difference equation, delta EM = C delta H/5 + 7 delta V + 4 delta C for estimation of small color differences by Munsell parameters. The published values of the Bioform shade-guide tooth colors determined with a Beckman spectrophotometer were used. Color differences among 276 combinations of the 24 Bioform shade-guide colors were calculated with Eq. 1, with use of the Munsell notation, and also with the CIE L*a*b* equation for delta E. An estimate of the accuracy of Eq. 1 was 0.41 delta E units when delta E CIE was below 4.0. The Vita shade-guide colors were determined with a Beckman spectrophotometer. This data set contained 16 samples, and 120 combinations were used for calculation of color difference. An estimate of the accuracy for this set of data was 0.35 delta E units when delta E CIE was less than 4.0. The new color-difference equation provides a means for estimation of delta E CIE L*a*b* color difference between dental shades with Munsell notation. This equation will be useful for estimation of small delta E CIE L*a*b* values for shade-guide teeth that are designated in terms of Munsell notation.     

Intracoronal radiolucencies within unerupted teeth. Case report and review of literature

A panoramic radiograph obtained during orthodontic treatment revealed an intracoronal radiolucency within an unerupted permanent second molar. This unusual entity was successfully treated by surgical and endodontic intervention, followed by restorative and orthodontic treatment. These treatments enabled the tooth to maintain pulpal vitality, erupt, complete root formation, and function. This report will review the proposed etiologies for this condition, discuss the need for surgical intervention, and present the details of the case.     

Association of smoking with periodontal treatment needs

A total of 344 Jerusalem hospital personnel participated in the present survey which examined periodontal needs according to CPITN (a measure of treatment needs) and smoking habits. Females and younger subjects were found to be generally periodontally healthier than their male and older counterparts. The effect of both smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked were shown to have a clearly deleterious effect on periodontal status when assessed using the CPITN. Younger women were found to be most susceptible to this effect.     

Microleakage of temporary endodontic restorations in teeth restored with amalgam

Microleakage of seven temporary restorative materials was evaluated in endodontic access preparations made in teeth restored with amalgam. Ten teeth were used for each of the seven materials: Cavit, Cavit-G, TERM, zinc phosphate cement, polycarboxylate cement, glass ionomer cement, and IRM. A class I amalgam was placed in the occlusal surface of each experimental tooth and an endodontic access preparation was made entirely within the amalgam. Then the access preparation was restored with one of the temporary restorative materials, and microleakage was evaluated using a fluid filtration technique. The amount of microleakage was quantitated by measuring the fluid flow at 15 min, 1 h, 24 h, 1 wk, and 2 wk after insertion of the temporary restoration. Cavit, Cavit-G, TERM, IRM, and glass ionomer cement all provided excellent seals while zinc phosphate cement and polycarboxylate cement provided less effective seals.     

Scaling and root planing effectiveness: the effect of root surface access and operator experience

This study investigated two variables associated with scaling and planning (S&RP): operator experience level and root surface access. One hundred and fourteen periodontally involved, single-rooted teeth designated for extraction were randomly distributed among four operators of various experience levels for either an open or closed session of S&RP. Immediately after treatment, the teeth were extracted, washed, and scored for residual calculus in a blind manner. Results showed that there was no difference in S&RP effectiveness for experience level or type of procedure in shallow (1-3 mm) pockets. However, in moderate (4-6 mm) and deep (greater than 6 mm) periodontal pockets, S&RP combined with an open flap procedure was more effective than S&RP alone for both experience levels. Also, the more experienced operators produced a significantly greater number of calculus-free root surfaces than the less experienced operators in periodontal pockets with moderate and deep probing depths. Clinical application of these results suggests that surgical access is associated with thorough surface debridement in periodontal pockets with moderate-to-advanced probing depths. However, more experienced operators could be expected to render more effective soft surface debridement.     

Electrotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen: promising treatments for postradiation complications

Electrotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy have been added to physical therapy to treat patients with postsurgery and radiation sequelae. Problems of reduced oral opening and range of head movement, soft tissue necrosis, osteoradionecrosis, and delayed wound healing were addressed in 37 patients over a 3-year period. Of this group, 16 irradiated maxillary resection patients were specifically followed up to determine the effectiveness of the new modalities on improving reduced oral opening. Although healing and the quality of the soft tissues showed marked improvement there was no significant improvement in oral opening.     

A controlled study of the association of various dental anomalies with hypodontia of permanent teeth

Although hypodontia, or oligodontia, is one of the most common human dental anomalies observed, there have been few studies on the association of other anomalies occurring with it. The present investigation of 1032 patient records found that 65.7% of patients with hypodontia showed ankylosis of primary molars compared to only 1.5% of control children (P less than 0.001). In addition, taurodontism of the mandibular first permanent molar was observed in 34.3% of hypodontia cases compared to 7.1% in the controls (P less than 0.001). Other dental anomalies significantly associated with hypodontia include enamel hypoplasia (11.9%, P less than 0.01) and conical incisors (8.9%, P less than 0.01). In contrast, there were significantly more impacted teeth in control children compared to the hypodontia group. The results indicate that for patients with missing permanent teeth, clinicians should be alert to the possibility of these associated anomalies and their accompanying clinical implications.