Suchergebnisse

SUMMARYA clinical investigation was done to determine the comparative efficacy of an experimental dentifrice, containing sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, zinc chloride, and sodium fluoride, with a control dentifrice on plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation. Fifty individuals participated in the study; 25 persons were randomly assigned to the control and experimental groups, respectively. The study was done using a double‐blind protocol. Paired data t‐test analysis was done to determine if statistically significant reductions in plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation had occurred after the 30‐day test period, and if significant differences existed between the control and experimental groups.Both groups showed a statistically significant reduction in their gingivitis and plaque scores. Comparison of the two groups indicated a 52% greater reduction in gingival inflammation by the group using the experimental toothpaste. The ability of the two dentifrice formulations to remove plaque, however, was similar.

SUMMARYExtensive resorption of an unerupted third molar resulted from progressive periodontal and periapical pathological conditions associated with the adjacent second molar. The subject's failure to seek restorative and periodontal treatment during the 12 years documented led to the findings noted and to eventual tooth loss.

SUMMARYThe present study examined the interrelationships of personality traits and six periodontal health status measures in 550 adult males, aged 29 to 74, who are participants in an ongoing longitudinal study of oral health and aging. Personality characteristics were assessed using Cattell's Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, and periodontal health status was evaluated through the measurement of the following variables: plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, calculus deposition, periodontal pocket depth, alveolar bone loss, and tooth mobility. A series of multiple regression analyses indicated that the personality traits of anxiety and extroversion had minimal associations with these periodontal disease indexes. Intelligence was weakly associated (inversely) with periodontal disease status. The best predictors of periodontal status were age and education, but these demographic variables accounted for, at most, only 12% of the variance in disease status. Other factors, such as hormonal imbalance, nutritional status, and cigarette smoking habits need to be included in multivariate models to develop a better understanding of interrelationships among factors related to periodontal disease.

editor's note: The Veterans Administration has been most perceptive and concerned about health changes that occur in the aging population for whom it provides long‐term care. We are pleased to encourage and publish the basic clinical research done by the VA dental staff.

The personality traits of introversion/extraversion and neuroticism were investigated as determinants of the utilization of restorative dental care, controlling for socioeconomic status and restorative need. The VA Dental Longitudinal Study (DLS) provided information on the restorative treatment received by 593 healthy adult males during a 10–year period. Utilization of restorative services was measured by calculating the percentage of surfaces that needed and received treatment, as identified by the DLS examiners by clinical and radiographic examination. Oral examinations were initiated in 1969 with subsequent examinations occurring at approximately 3–year intervals. Personality measures for these individuals were obtained using the EPI‐Q, a shortened form of the Eysenck Personality Inventory.A plot of neuroticism versus the utilization measure yielded a curvilinear relationship suggesting that participants seeking the most dental care scored moderately on the neuroticism scale while those scoring lowest and highest on this scale sought less treatment. In contrast, the introversion/extraversion scale showed no apparent relationship with dental care utilization. Results from the regression analysis suggest that dentition and socioeconomic status are strong determinants of utilization and that need for restorative treatment influences utilization.

Sodium chloride and sucrose gustatory recognition thresholds, suprathreshold taste intensity function, and sucrose suprathreshold taste preference in healthy adult males with removable artificial dentition were compared with persons having natural dentition. In addition, several inorganic salivary constituents were evaluated for their possible relationship with these modalities.The 75 participants studied were divided into two age and two dentition groups: less than 65 years versus 65 years and older; and natural dentition only versus either removable partial dentures or complete artificial dentition. Recognition threshold and suprathreshold psychophysical functions were assessed using aqueous solutions of sodium chloride and sucrose. Suprathreshold hedonic judgments were also determined for sucrose. Samples of stimulated parotid saliva were analyzed for sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate.As age increased, a statistically significant decrease was noted in the exponent of the psychophysical function for sodium chloride. A similar, but nonsignificant, trend was observed for sucrose, which was complicated by an interaction between age and dentition status. For sodium chloride, recognition thresholds tended to be higher for older persons with removable partial and complete dentures. However, no statistically significant effect was observed on the sucrose threshold or hedonic response as a result of dentition status. Analysis of several parotid saliva constituents showed no statistically significant effect caused by age or dentition status and correlations noted among the psychophysical measures appeared to be fortuitous.