Survey of the oral health needs of institutionalised elderly patients in Western Australia

An epidemiological survey of the oral health needs of 1144 elderly patients was conducted in hospitals and nursing homes in Western Australia. Patients were categorised as being either totally dependent (requiring intensive nursing care) or partially dependent (requiring nursing supervision). Of all patients the mean age was 80.2 yr, 70% were women, 74% were edentulous, and 70% needed some form of prosthetic care. Of all dentate patients 56% needed dental scaling (and 17% needed complex periodontal treatment), 47% needed some restorative treatment (with a mean need per patient of 1.1 coronal restorations and 0.4 radicular restoration), and 29% needed one or more dental extractions (with a mean need of 1.4 extractions per patient). Partially dependent patients had statistically significant higher needs for prosthetic work than did totally dependent patients, while the converse applied to extraction needs, but in all other aspects the needs of the two categories of patient did not differ significantly.     

Eighteen-month Coronal Caries Incidence in North Carolina Older Adults

In this longitudinal study of a random sample of North Carolinians over the age of 65 and living in their homes, 325 blacks and 280 whites were examined and interviewed 18 months after baseline examinations. Coronal caries incidence was greater among whites than blacks. The increment due to teeth becoming root fragments were similar for both races; however, there were more newly crowned teeth among whites. Newly crowned surfaces were not used as part of the caries increment in logistic regression models to investigate potential risk predictors. For blacks, caries development over the 18-month period was associated with a higher lactobacillus score and more coronal caries at baseline, more previously filled coronal surfaces, and lack of active membership in clubs or other groups. For whites, having no self-reported tooth sensitivity, having a lower socioeconomic index score, taking antihistamine medications at baseline, and having the perception of more problems after the age of 40 than before were all associated with the development of coronal caries.     

Histological evaluation of dog permanent teeth after traumatic intrusion of their primary predecessors

Abstract –  The aims of this study were to analyze the histomorphology of developing permanent teeth whose primary teeth had suffered traumatic intrusion, as well as to compare the influence of immediate extraction of the intruded tooth to passive re-eruption. Nine dogs from 45 to 50 days old were submitted to the intrusion of the maxillary central and lateral primary incisors using a force applicator adapted to the teeth incisal cuspids. The right side intruded teeth were kept in their sockets and the ones on the left side were extracted 30 min later. After a postoperatory periods of 30 and 60 days, four (group 1) and five (group 2) dogs, respectively, were killed by perfusion. The histological evaluations showed that, in group 1, alterations had occurred in the odontoblastic layer and deposition of the enamel matrix had taken place in some specimens while in group 2, a portion of non-mineralized matrix was observed. We concluded that the morphological changes were because of the immediate trauma of intrusion. No differences were found between the groups where the primary tooth was immediately extracted or left to passively re-erupt.     

Topical application of fluorides on teeth

Abstract Prevention of caries in exposed root surfaces constitutes an important clinical problem. It is thus important that clinicians involved with periodontology have an insight into fluoride prophylaxis. The understanding of the cariostatic mechanism of fluoride has improved during recent years. The aim of the present review is to give a short account of the present concept. Calcium fluoride appears to be the only product which is formed on enamel, dentin or cementum during brief topical treatments with fluoride or use of toothpaste containing fluoride. This calcium fluoride is stable in the oral environment: this is contrary to what was believed until recently. The calcium fluoride constitutes a pH-dependant reservoir of fluoride which releases fluoride when pH drops. The practical consequences of this concept is discussed.     

Periodontal treatment needs in populations under 20 years of age in Espoo, Finland and Chiangmai, Thailand

The aim of this study was to assess the periodontal treatment needs at under 20 yr of age in the affluent area of Espoo, Finland, offering comprehensive public dental health care, as compared to a less advantaged area in Chiangmai, Thailand. In Espoo, 50 girls and 50 boys were examined in each age group of 7, 12 and 17 yr. In Chiangmai equal numbers of girls and boys were examined to obtain a group of 89 subjects aged 18.5 + 0.6 yr. According to the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) the need of scaling increased in Espoo from 6% of the 7-yr-olds to 39% of the 17-yr-olds. Moderate pocketing (4-5 mm) occurred in one subject at age 12 and in three subjects at age 17. In Chiangmai, deep pockets (6 mm and over) were recorded for 1%, moderate pockets for a total of 44%, and dental calculus as the highest treatment need indicator in the remaining 55%, indicating a need for professional treatment in 100% of the group examined. The mean number of sextants requiring scaling was 0.6 per person at age 17 in Espoo as compared to 4.5 at 18.5 yr of age in Chiangmai. Three or more healthy sextants per subject were recorded for 47% of the 17-yr-olds in Espoo and for only 6% of the 18.5-yr-olds in Chiangmai. It was concluded that already at young age vast differences occur between periodontal treatment needs in industrialized and developing countries.     

Attitudes of College Football Officials Regarding NCAA Mouthguard Regulations and Player Compliance

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) mandates the use of brightly colored, intraoral mouth- guards by football players to reduce the frequency and severity of craniofacial and intraoral morbidity and mortality, and to enhance the ability of officials to observe player compliance. The purpose of this 12-question mail survey was to determine the attitudes of on-Held game officials regarding current NCAA mouthguard regulations and patterns of utilization by college football players. The sample consisted of all 50 Big East Football Conference officials; a response rate of 100 percent was achieved. Only 42 percent of the officials reported observing all players in compliance, and quarterbacks were identified by others as the least compliant group (52%). The majority (88%) indicated that the 1990 rule for brightly colored mouthguards had been beneficial to them in determining player compliance, and 52 percent reported that this rule had resulted in more frequent use by these athletes. Nearly all officials (96%) indicated that they would issue a warning for noncompliance to the player or coach, rather than charging a timeout for a violation as prescribed by NCAA regulations. The majority (70%) believe current enforcement is appropriate, but expressed the opinion that coaches should be held more accountable for player compliance.     

Microbiology of subgingival plaque from children with localized prepubertal periodontitis

Localized prepubertal periodontitis has been described as a host-defect mediated form of bacterially induced periodontitis, with an early onset and rapid progression around a few teeth in children prior to puberty. To further our understanding of the etiology of this disease, we have examined the microbiological components of subgingival dental plaque in 9 children with localized prepubertal periodontitis to determine if patterns of putative pathogens existed, and have compared these results with those obtained from 4 children with no periodontitis. Subgingival plaque samples were plated onto a selective medium for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and onto a non-selective medium for anaerobes, and the predominant cultivable microbiota of 2 sites per child was determined. The subgingival microbiota of children with localized prepubertal periodontitis clearly differs from non-diseased children in the detection of high levels of several suspected pathogens, including A. actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides intermedius, Eikenella corrodens, and Capnocytophaga sputigena. These putative pathogens were found in various combinations. These findings suggest that localized prepubertal periodontitis is associated with specific subgingival bacteria which are generally not found in children without periodontitis.     

“Do You Have a Healthy Smile?”

This article examines whether cosmetic interventions by dentists and plastic surgeons are medically indicated and, hence, qualify as medical interventions proper. Cosmetic interventions (and the business strategies used to market them) are often frowned upon by dentists and physicians. However, if those interventions do not qualify as medical interventions proper, they should not be evaluated using medical-ethical norms. On the other hand, if they are to be considered medical practice proper, the medical-ethical principles of nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice and others hold true for cosmetic interventions as much as they do for other medical and dental interventions. It is concluded that most cosmetic interventions do not qualify as medical interventions proper because they do not restore or maintain the patient's health (defined as the patient's integrity) by any objective standards. Rather, cosmetic interventions are intended to enhance a person's physical appearance; more specifically, they intend to fulfill the client's subjective perception of an enhanced appearance. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The “Scandinavian Star” ferry disaster 1990 -a challenge to forensic odontology

Summary With 158 victims, the fire on board the Scandinavian Star was one of the world's worst ferry disasters. A team of identification experts, including dentists, were employed to secure evidence for identification and to remove the victims from the ferry. Four parallel teams, each with 2 dentists, examined and autopsied the victims at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Oslo. Using the INTERPOL Disaster Victim Identification forms and aided by computers, all victims were identified within 17 days. Dental identity could be established in 107 cases (68%).     

上海市普陀区小学教师儿童牙外伤知识知晓度抽样调查

目的:了解上海市普陀区小学教师对牙外伤相关知识的掌握情况.方法:采用问卷答题方式,调查普陀区1020名小学教师对儿童牙外伤处理相关知识的掌握程度,采用SPSS 20.0软件包对数据进行统计学分析.结果:共回收有效问卷973份.74.8％教师知道就近处理牙外伤医疗机构的信息,53.8％的教师在学生发生牙外伤时会首先告知家...