Efficacy of Carisolv™ as an adjunctive therapy to scaling and root planing on subgingival calculus removal

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of subgingival application of Carisolv™ gel as an adjunctive therapy to scaling and root planing (SRP) on calculus removal compared to conventional instrumentation. Forty-five teeth requiring extraction due to severe periodontal disease were randomized to the following treatments: 1) SRP alone; 2) placebo gel + SRP; 3) Carisolv™ gel + SRP. Either test or placebo gel was applied subgingivally for 1 min and then the root were instrumented until a smooth and calculus-free surface was achieved. Instrumentation time and the number of strokes required were recorded. After extraction, the efficacy of root surface instrumentation was measured by percentage of remaining calculus. There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the treatment groups regarding either time required for instrumentation or the percentage of residual calculus. The subgingival application of Carisolv™ gel prior to SRP did not provide any additional benefit to root instrumentation compared to scaling and root planing alone.

El tabaco y las periodontopatías.

The purpose of this research, which is part of a study on periodontal disease and its risk factors among workers in Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil, was to determine the association between smoking and its frequency, on the one hand, and the presence of periodontal cavities on the other. A sample of 528 sugar and alcohol refinery employees from Araraquara between the ages of 18 and 64 was examined in March and April of 1992 by a trained examiner who applied the Index of Periodontal Treatment Needs in the Community. Questionnaires were used to record the individuals' age, smoking habits, and the number of cigarettes smoked daily. An oral examination was also performed to assess the presence of dental plaque and to determine the bacterial colony index. Data analysis revealed a positive association between the presence of periodontal cavities and smoking. After adjusting the data for age, presence of dental plaque, and bacterial colony index, the odds ratio for having periodontal cavities increased directly with the number of cigarettes smoked. These results suggest that smoking and its frequency should be taken into account when planning programs for the primary prevention and treatment of periodontal disease.

Changes in periodontal conditions of children and adolescents from Araraquara, Brazil: 1995-1998.

The aim of this study was to compare the periodontal conditions in 7-15-year-olds from Araraquara, SP, Brazil in 1998 with data from 1995. A systematic random sample was drawn from the population of children and adolescents enrolled in all public schools in 1998. The survey was conducted by trained examiners using the CPITN and WHO diagnostic criteria. Results showed an increase in the percentage of students of all ages with healthy periodontal conditions (from 14% in 1995 to 33% in 1998; p < 0.01). An increase in the mean number of healthy sextants (from 3.2 to 4.4; p < 0.0001), a decrease in the mean number of bleeding sextants (from 2.5 to 1.2; p < 0.0001) and no difference in the mean number of sextants with calculus were also observed. At the age of 15, 54% of the students had 5-6 healthy sextants in 1998 compared to 19% in 1995 (p < 0.01). Despite the improvement observed in the periodontal conditions, efforts must be increased in order to achieve the WHO goal for the year 2010 of no more than one sextant affected by bleeding or calculus at the age of 15.

SEM evaluation of in situ early bacterial colonization on a Y-TZP ceramic: A pilot study

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of surface glazing and polishing of yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal ceramic on early dental biofilm formation, as well as the effect of brushing on the removal of adhered bacteria. Two subjects used oral appliances with polished and glazed samples fixed to the right and left sides. After 20 minutes, 1 hour, and 6 hours, the subjects manually brushed the samples on the right side. The samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Granular material was verified on the samples, especially on irregular surfaces. After 1 hour, there was no significant difference between glazed and polished surfaces in terms of bacterial presence. However, glazed surfaces tended to accumulate more biofilm, and brushing did not completely remove the biofilm. Polished surfaces seem to present a lower tendency for biofilm formation. Int J Prosthodont 2007;20:419-422.

Clinical manifestations and oral findings in fraser syndrome

This article is the first known case report of Fraser syndrome in the dental literature. Its purpose was to present the clinical manifestations, oral findings, and dental treatment of a 14-year, 10-month-old female patient. Fraser syndrome is a rare recessive autosomal genetic disorder characterized by multisystemic malformation, usually comprising cryptophthalmos, syndactyly, and renal defects. The child presented with: (1) hydrocephaly; (2) face asymmetry; (3) low-inserted ears; (4) flat nose bridge; (5) cryptophthalmos; (6) bilateral absence of eyeballs; (7) hypertelorism; (8) syndactyly on the left fingers and toes; (9) skeletal defects; and (10) lower limb asymmetry. The intraoral examination revealed: (1) complete primary denture; (2) malocclusion; (3) tooth crowding; (4) ogival palate; (5) normal labial frena; (6) absence of lingual frenum (not compromising the tongue movements); (7) parched lips; (8) supragingival calculus adhered to all tooth surfaces; and (9) moderate gingivitis. The dental treatment consisted of periodic monitoring of the patient's oral health status and supragingival scaling associated with topical applications of 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate gel at 2-week intervals to reduce gingivitis.

Influence of dental exposure to oral environment on smear layer removal and collagen exhibition after using different conditioning agents

Although in vitro studies have shown encouraging results for root surface conditioning with demineralizing agents, in vivo studies have failed to show its benefits in periodontal healing. This can be attributed to several factors, among which, the hypermineralization of dental surface. Therefore, this in vitro study compared, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the effect of root surface conditioning with different conditioners (1% and 25% citric acid, 24% EDTA and 50 mg/mL tetracycline hydrochloride) in impacted teeth and in teeth that had their roots exposed to the oral environment. One trained examiner assessed the SEM micrographs using a root surface modification index. There was a tendency of more root surface modification in the group of impacted teeth, suggesting that the degree of root mineralization influences its chemical demineralization.

Oral health of the elderly with Alzheimer's disease

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the oral health of elderly people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Study Design: Thirty elderly subjects with AD (mild, moderate, and severe) and 30 without AD (controls) were included in the study. Volunteer-reported oral health data were collected using the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Demographic and oral characteristics were assessed, including the number of natural teeth; number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMTF); oral health index (OHI); removable prosthesis conditions; and oral pathologies. Results: GOHAI values were similar for both groups. Compared with the controls, the subjects with AD had a higher age, DMTF, OHI, and number of oral pathologies and a lower educational level and number of natural teeth. Conclusions: Elderly subjects with AD had poorer oral health than those without the disease. Despite the positive self-perception of their oral health, the oral health of subjects with AD tended to decline as their disease progressed. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

Influence of the condition of the adjacent tooth surface on fluorescence measurements for the detection of approximal caries

The aim of this study was to test whether the status of the adjacent tooth surface has an influence on the signal of a new laser fluorescence (LF) device for the detection of approximal caries. Seventy-eight teeth were selected from a pool of extracted permanent human molars, frozen at -20 degrees C until use. Before being measured the teeth were defrosted, cleaned, and any calculus removed. As a control, a defined approximal surface of each tooth was measured with the LF device holding the tip with the detecting- and the reverse-side on it, but without a neighboring tooth contacting the surface. The proximal site under examination was then placed adjacent to a tooth, which had deep dentinal caries, a composite restoration, a provisional ZnO-Eugenol restoration, or a ceramic restoration. The adjacent tooth with the ZnO-Eugenol restoration, the composite restoration, and the dentinal caries all demonstrated a statistically significant increase of LF readings on sound tooth surfaces. Teeth with enamel or dentinal caries were only slightly (and not statistically significantly) influenced by the different types of neighboring surfaces compared with the control LF readings. It can be concluded that caries detection of approximal tooth surfaces with the new LF system might be influenced by the condition of the adjacent tooth surface.

Does psychological stress mediate social deprivation in tooth loss?

It is unclear which theoretical dimension of psychological stress affects health status. We hypothesized that both distress and coping mediate the relationship between socio-economic position and tooth loss. Cross-sectional data from 2915 middle-aged adults evaluated retention of < 20 teeth, behaviors, psychological stress, and sociodemographic characteristics. Principal components analysis of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) extracted 'distress' (a = 0.85) and 'coping' (a =0.83) factors, consistent with theory. Hierarchical entry of explanatory variables into age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] for retention of < 20 teeth. Analysis of the separate contributions of distress and coping revealed a significant main effect of coping (OR = 0.7 [95% CI = 0.7-0.8]), but no effect for distress (OR = 1.0 [95% CI = 0.9-1.1]) or for the interaction of coping and distress. Behavior and psychological stress only modestly attenuated socio-economic inequality in retention of < 20 teeth, providing evidence to support a mediating role of coping.

Tooth fracture risk analysis based on a new finite element dental structure models using micro-CT data

The finite element (FE) analysis is an effective method to study the strength and predict the fracture risk of endodontically-treated teeth. This paper presents a rapid method developed to generate a comprehensive tooth FE model using data retrieved from micro-computed tomography (μCT). With this method, the inhomogeneity of material properties of teeth was included into the model without dividing the tooth model into different regions. The material properties of the tooth were assumed to be related to the mineral density. The fracture risk at different tooth portions was assessed for root canal treatments. The micro-CT images of a tooth were processed by a Matlab software programme and the CT numbers were retrieved. The tooth contours were obtained with thresholding segmentation using Amira. The inner and outer surfaces of the tooth were imported into Solidworks and a three-dimensional (3D) tooth model was constructed. An assembly of the tooth model with the periodontal ligament (PDL) layer and surrounding bone was imported into ABAQUS. The material properties of the tooth were calculated from the retrieved CT numbers via ABAQUS user's subroutines. Three root canal geometries (original and two enlargements) were investigated. The proposed method in this study can generate detailed 3D finite element models of a tooth with different root canal enlargements and filling materials, and would be very useful for the assessment of the fracture risk at different tooth portions after root canal treatments.

Modeling obligations with event-calculus

Time plays an important role in norms. In this paper we start from our previously proposed classification of obligations, and point out some shortcomings of Event Calculus (EC) to represent obligations. We proposed an extension of EC that avoids such shortcomings and we show how to use it to model the various types of obligations.

Regional chromosomal assignment of human renin gene to 1q12→qter and use in linkage studies in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

The gene for renin, previously mapped to human chromosome 1, was further localized to 1q12 → qter using human-mouse somatic cell hybrid DNAs. The renin DNA probe used (λ HR5) could detect a HindIII restriction fragment length polymorphism. When used in studies of 12 informative families, no linkage could be found between the renin and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Furthermore, an association of any renin allele with hypertension was not apparent.

Chromosome I linkage studies in Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type I

Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type 1 (CMT1) is an autosomal dominant disorder of peripheral nerve. The gene for CMT1 was originally localized to chromosome 1 by linkage to the Duffy blood group, but it has since been shown that not all CMT1 pedigrees show this linkage. We report here the results of linkage studies using five chromosome 1 markers - Duffy (Fy), antithrombin III (AT3), renin (REN), β-nerve growth factor (NGFB), and salivary amylase (AMY1) - in 16 CMT1 pedigrees. The total lod scores exclude close linkage of CMT1 to any of these markers. However, individual families show probable linkage of CMT1 to Duffy, AT3, and/or AMY1. No linkage was indicated with REN or NGFB. These results indicate that possible location of a CMT1 gene between the AMY1 and AT3 loci at p21 and q23, respectively, on chromosome 1 and support the theory that there is at least one other CMT1 gene.

Heterogeneity evidence and linkage studies on Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type 1 (CMT1) is an autosomal dominant disorder originally localized to chromosome 1 by linkage to the Duffy blood group. Studies have since shown that the disorder may be heterogeneous, as not all families show this linkage. We tested genetic heterogeneity by the HOMOG computer program in 15 CMT1 pedigrees informative for Duffy. We detected no evidence for heterogeneity in this sample, but when we combined results with previously published lod scores, heterogeneity was statistically significant. Twelve of the 15 families studied did not show linkage to Duffy. We found six of these families to be informative for a chromosome 19 marker, apolipoprotein CII(ApoC2). Despite a previous report showing probable linkage of a non-Duffy-linked CMT1 pedigree to two chromosome 19 markers, we did not detect significant linkage of ApoC2 to CMT1 in these families.